“Heavenly Stars”
January 24, 2021
Pastor Greg Ronning
The Psalmist writes, “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor.” (Psalm 8:3-5)
Since ancient times the people of earth have looked up into the night sky with “awe and wonder.” There’s nothing that compares with stargazing up in the mountains on a crystal-clear night. Away from the lights of civilization the heavens explode in glory. Looking up at the brilliant stars we are reminded of the vastness of the universe. We are reminded that our planet is but a small rock in the midst of it all. And that we, as individuals, are just a mere speck in the whole cosmos. Yet at the same time, the stars that shine down upon us also remind us that we are not alone in the universe, the light in the darkness reminds us that we are loved. The stars bear witness to the God of all creation who in the fullness of time became flesh to be among us, full of grace and truth, in Jesus.
The stars not only point us to the heavens, but they have also served humanity in practical ways. Before GPS and radar, the “North Star” provided a fixed point in the heavens, it was the hub that all the other stars seemed to rotate around, making it extremely useful for navigation, especially for sailors out at sea. The “North Star” provided orientation and guidance, it told you where you were and where you were headed. This unique star also took on a symbolic meaning for humanity. To have a “North Star” is to have a guiding principle. As a community of faith, the followers of Jesus, our “North Star” has always been the life and teachings of Jesus, the death and resurrection of Christ, the Kingdom of Heaven. We are guided in our life and calling by Christ. Christ is our “North Star.”
And in the season of Epiphany, we are reminded of another star, the so-called “Epiphany Star.” This star appeared in the heavens at the time of Jesus birth and led the Magi to the place where they would find the Messiah, the Christ, a babe lying in a manger, wrapped in bands of cloth. Metaphorical “Epiphany Stars” come and go in the various seasons of our life, as communities and as individuals, guiding us in our unique calling as the followers of Jesus. They appear on the horizon when we are searching for meaning and purpose. They appear in the sky when we need direction. They begin to shine, when we feel lost. They lead us on the adventure and journey that is our life in Christ.
This Sunday we gather for our annual meeting. We have the business of the church to do, we must approve our budget and elect church council leaders. But we also gather to affirm the direction of our ministry and dedicate ourselves to our calling as a community of faith at this time and place.
As we begin another year, still challenged with the ongoing pandemic, I am thankful that we have a “North Star.” Our foundation is securely placed in Christ. The life of Jesus, his teachings and his actions, his call to love and serve, remain our guiding principles. And his death and resurrection, informs and enlightens, and gives depth and meaning to our core understanding of life.
And I am thankful for our “Epiphany Star,” our mission statement for this season of our life which has guided us through the struggles and difficulties of this past year and is leading us boldly and confidently into this new year, “Called to be the Heart of Christ, Feeding Our Neighbors Body and Soul, With Grace, Mercy, and Love.” We are “The Church that Feeds People.”
Let us pray. Good and gracious God, we give thanks that when we look up into the heavens, we are not only filled with awe and wonder, but also reminded of your great love for us. We give thanks for Jesus who is our North Star, our guiding light in this world. And we give thanks for our mission, our calling at First Lutheran Church, our epiphany star that continues to lead us forward in this difficult and challenging times. Amen.