Rooted in Christ…

Rooted in Christ, Walking Together

As we continue to be warmed by the season of Epiphany – a season that speaks of light breaking into darkness, of God being revealed in unexpected places, and of journeys shaped by trust rather than certainty – I invite you to pause and reflect.

The journey of the Magi, as told in the Gospel of Matthew, offers us a powerful image. They followed a star, not knowing the full destination, yet courageous enough to begin the journey. Their attentiveness to a sign, and their willingness to move without full clarity, remind us that faithfulness does not require certainty at every step, but openness to God’s leading.

In many ways, this mirrors the journey within our families, workplaces, and within the World Day of Prayer movement itself: walking alongside those who are searching, questioning, and navigating complex landscapes of belief, identity, and meaning, as they seek communities to which they can truly belong.

The story of the Magi also speaks deeply to ethical discernment and resilience. When they encounter Herod, they are drawn into a system shaped by fear, control, and injustice. After meeting the Christ child, they are warned in a dream and choose to return home by another way. Rooted in their encounter with Christ, they refuse to collude with violence and oppression. Epiphany reveals not only who Christ is, but how allegiance to Christ reshapes our paths.

As I reflect, two words come to mind: rooted and resilient.
To be rooted is to know where—and in whom—we stand. Our rootedness is in Christ, the Word made flesh. From this grounding in prayer, Scripture, and sacrament, we gain the spiritual depth needed to listen well, discern wisely, and remain compassionate. Without such roots, resilience becomes mere survival; with them, it becomes faithful endurance and moral clarity.

To be resilient is not to be untouched by challenge, but to remain open, hopeful, and courageous amid uncertainty. Epiphany teaches us that God’s light does not remove the darkness, but shines within it—and sometimes calls us to take a different route. As a World Day of Prayer community, we reflect this light through presence, accompaniment, hospitality, and the quiet courage to name injustice and protect the vulnerable.

Resilience, however, also requires care for ourselves. The Magi do not remain at the manger indefinitely; they return home, carrying what they have encountered into their own lives. Likewise, in our personal and professional lives, we cannot pour out indefinitely without being renewed. Attending to prayer, rest, boundaries, and community is essential. Self-care is not self-indulgence; it is an act of faithfulness that enables us to continue bearing light without burning out.

As we enter this new year, we give thanks for the gift of life. And like the Magi, may we remain attentive to the signs of God’s presence among us—and may we have the courage to leave by another way, carrying Christ’s light into the personal, safe, and shared spaces we are called to serve. Amen.

Rev. Rebecca Daniel

photo: from one of the Chagall windows, All Saints’ Tudeley