Insight: epiphany time to spread Christ's word

We are a little past the middle of epiphany. Epiphany begins on Jan. 6, Twelfth Night, and continues to the day before Ash Wednesday.

The word epiphany comes from the Greek and means "the appearance or manifestation of a deity to his worshipers" among other things.

Traditionally, this is a time of mission and evangelism in the Christian church. This is a time to tell others about Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. It is a time to show the love of Christ to all the world and to show Him as the way, the truth and the light.

We should ask ourselves if we reflect the light of Christ. Many times the first introduction to Christ in the lives of unbelievers is seeing the love, kindness, forgiveness and peace that the Holy Spirit has given us.

Sometimes, when a person is growing bitter or critical; when his/her prayers appear to be hitting a wall; or if a person is blue or lonesome; when a person is aged or in trouble; when we are becoming skeptical and losing confidence in others; when we are frustrated because we can't have our way; when we are tired of sin, it is the Holy Spirit and the love of Jesus Christ that we hear and feel from other Christians that can make a difference in the lives of others.

Perhaps one of the best and most current examples is found in the article "God Is in Control," written by a member of the Wedgewood Baptist Church in Texas, when on Sept. 15, 1999, a gunman entered the church and killed seven people and injured seven. The result of the actions and reactions of members of the church demonstrated such love and peace that "denominations pulled together;" many members are healing broken relationships and their example has been instrumental in bringing others to a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Rev. Elaine Ludlum Morgan is with the Coventry Cross Episcopal Church in Minden, located at 1631 Esmeralda St. For information, call 782-4161.