May the splendor of Your majesty, O Lord, we pray, shed its light upon our hearts, that we may pass through the shadows of this world and reach the brightness of our eternal home. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
the splendor of Your majesty – Epiphany is a feast of light. We think about the star that showed the magi the way to the newborn Jesus. We reflect on how the gifts of the magi must have glimmered in the dim light of the stable. But our collect takes us to a whole new level of light by inviting us to ponder the splendor of God's majesty. Our God dwells in inexpressible light, beyond anything our human minds can conceive. Yet He shines His light on us, filling us with the splendor of His love by sending His Son to become Man, save us from our sins, and immerse us in His grace.
shed its light upon our hearts – Our hearts have been darkened by sin, dimmed by our faults, made gloomy and dreary by our anxiety and lack of trust. We must always pray that God forgive our sins, strengthen us in our weakness, support us in our misery, and illuminate our hearts that we may see the way to Him just as the star of Bethlehem guided the magi to Jesus lying in the manger.
we may pass through the shadows of this world – This world often seems like a dark, shadowy place, filled with fear and suffering, controlled by those who desire power and wealth for their own sake, brimming with bad news. Indeed, we live in a fallen world, and we must travel through its shadows by the light in our own hearts, which have been filled with God's grace and love. We are called to let God's light shine through us and to illuminate the world with faith, hope, and love.
reach the brightness of our eternal home – Are we ready to step out of the shadowlands (as C.S. Lewis once called this world) into the light of Heaven? Are we training our spiritual eyes to endure more and more of God's splendor so that we will be ready to see Him face to face when He calls us home?
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