Good afternoon friends!
Today we celebrate Epiphany. The day that three wise men followed a sign all the way to Jesus. They may not have expected to find what they did: a displaced newborn child in poverty. But that is what they found, that was the form taken by the prophesied King of Kings.
And being wise, or perhaps being made wise right then and there by their choice, they adored him. Recognized him for what he was. And before baby Jesus was old enough to speak, they passed the test he would later issue in John 6: “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent”.
On that note dear friends, as we celebrate Epiphany, and mark the close of Christmastide, there are now displaced newborn infants in poverty, right in the very place where Jesus was born. And for another layer of analogy, just four days ago it was reported that displaced Palestinians are taking refuge in the Rafah Zoo, which having been closed, reopened its doors to house people who have been driven into this last, tiny, besieged corner of the Gaza strip.
Will we be wise men? Will we believe in the one whom God has sent? The one who tells us plainly the means by which we may propitiate him for our human family’s great sins?: “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
Today I deliver to your inbox an opportunity to do the work of God, to believe in the one he sent.
Tomorrow, Jan. 8, the Kansas House votes on a resolution put forth by Rep. Owens which in its own words, “[reaffirms] Kansas’ support and cooperation with the State of Israel”. The resolution goes on to invoke numerous outright factual errors, and dangerous talking points, in an attempt to cloak its nefarious intent behind the legitimacy of civil rights issues, namely anti-semitism, and women’s welfare.
If you live in Kansas, or do not live in Kansas but are still a formal resident or registered voter, please, I implore you, sign THIS letter and send it via the form to the Kansas House of Representative before tomorrow Jan. 8!
You may do so here! At this link you may also read the full text of the resolution, annotated by Al-Hadaf KC, to outline the errors in the resolution’s text.
Signing off with faith, hope, and fragile joy in this bleak midwinter.
Love,
Jeromiah.