For Epiphany Sunday, Rev. Cari jumps off from the story found in Matthew 2:1-12 about the visitors from the East. She pretty quickly diverts into an exploration of the similarities between the Magi, Severus Snape (from the Harry Potter books and movies) and Jean Valjean (from Les Miserables).

In doing so, she reveals that sometimes, the complex characters in our stories are transformed when they are loved, or learn to love someone else. Returning to the story of the Magi, she suggests that they, too, are complex characters – unexpected Gentile guests in the Jewish story of Jesus – who are changed by their visit to the child Emmanuel.

Next she turns to you and I, here and now. We may not think of ourselves as “complex” characters, but we are certainly still in process. And she closes the sermon with an invitation to the listener, to engage with the Yearly Examen – a prayer exercise of St. Ignatius of Loyola, which can be found here.

Perhaps you will find your way “home” into this new year, by spending some time with the love that created you, and engaging the Yearly Examen.