Late for Lunch
I’ve no questions only answers
Ducky said to Dad one day
I’ll show you I’m the smartest one
Why should I do what you say?
Then Raccoon heard his boast and paused
And slyly licked his paws
He walked down to the water’s edge
And stood to give applause
When Ducky heard the sound he looked
And saw Raccoon’s smiling eyes
How wise this creature Ducky thought
To see where greatness lies
But sadly by next day at noon
Ducky didn’t show for lunch
Where he was off to no one knew
But his father had a hunch!
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge:
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:7 KJVLate for Lunchby Peter Caligiuri
Copyright 2021
All rights reserved
And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. Luke 4:1-2 ESV
Before Jesus began His public ministry, the Holy Spirit led Him into the wilderness to be alone for forty days. Though most of us will never spend 40 days alone in the wilderness, God sometimes chooses times of isolation in our lives.
These may be unexpected events which we could never have imagined or a sudden change in our health. But whatever the circumstance it is most important to remember that the value of our own wilderness experience lies not in what we are suffering but in what we are learning from the Holy Spirit. But no matter the testing or the wilderness, the most important thing is that in the quietness of our time alone, we learn to hear the voice of God for ourselves. Only He will lead us “not into temptation” and then maybe even tomorrow out of the wilderness and into the next chapter He has planned for our life!
And the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” Luke 3:22 ESV
Besides the Orthodox tradition that January 6th is the day the wise men arrived in Bethlehem, the word “Epiphany, as dictionary.com defines it is “a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality.” Not to take anything away from the wise men’s story, but how many know that there in another Epiphany? Locally here, in Tarpon Springs Florida, the Greek Orthodox church, celebrates this day by having their Archbishop throw a white cross into the Spring Bayou. Next a crowd of teen-aged boys dive in and the one who comes up with it receives a special blessing for himself and his family. This locally famous event recalls not the arrival of three men with camels and gifts but rather the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist.
All over the world as people think of wise men presenting their gifts before the baby Jesus they get warm fuzzy feelings and wish they could have been there to see a cuddly baby in a manger. A far less cuddly Jesus reveals himself at His baptism thirty years later at the Jordan river. There, as God the Father looked down as Jesus, stood dripping wet from His baptism, He spoke with a voice that He wanted everyone to hear, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased!” Just imagine, that the God who spoke the sun moon and stars into existence, was so excited that He spoke again and sent His Spirit down in the visible form of a dove. Now that’s an Epiphany! Jesus Christ was getting ready to heal the sick, raise the dead, walk on water and multiply bread. It was almost as if He was getting ready to go to work. His job however was not to write books, run a business or become a political leader; it was to show who God was to a world full of lonely, hurting and lost people. And considering the crazy year we have all been through we need Him more than ever today. Why not use this other Epiphany as the perfect time to invite Jesus to get to work in your life today?
For those interested to learn a little more about our local Epiphany celebration here is a short YouTube account. Have a blessed Epiphany day everyone!
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