2 Corinthians 5:20b—6:10
20b We entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
6:1 As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says,
“At an acceptable time I have listened to you,
and on a day of salvation I have helped you.”
See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! 3 We are putting no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, 7 truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see—we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
“… See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! …”
Today is the last day of the Epiphany season. Tomorrow, Ash Wednesday, Lent begins. Today, the season of light comes to its conclusion. Tomorrow, the focus changes, not to darkness, but to reflection, self-examination, and repentance. Today, as we have done for the past two months, we celebrate the manifestation of the Lord’s presence in our midst. Tomorrow, we begin our journey toward Holy Week – the suffering, the cross, and the grave.
What better time is there than this to recognize and give glory to God for the salvation we have been given through Christ Jesus. He is, after all, the Lord’s anointed – the Chosen One of God. His light has shone upon us these past weeks; and He has shown forth His majesty and magnificence. We have reveled in the light.
As we end this season of Epiphany, it is indeed the acceptable time to celebrate and rejoice that Jesus is Lord – that He is our Lord. As we anticipate our journey through Lent, today is also the acceptable time to reaffirm our faith in the One who has led us this far and now stands ready to go before us. The cross and empty tomb await us. Today is the day of salvation!
Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for the light You have shined upon us. As we begin with You our Lenten journey, remind us of the gift of salvation that You give to us and all people. Amen.