How can Epiphany and what happened yesterday have anything to do with each other?

January 6 is the day Christians celebrate Epiphany. Mainly it is a remembrance of the wise men visiting Jesus and bringing him gifts. Some traditions celebrate Jesus’ baptism, some his birth. When I think of the visit of the wise men, I always wonder what it was like for Mary as she watched these men bow down, worship her son and present her and Joseph with expensive gifts. The Magi (wise men) called Jesus “a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.” The story of the visit of the Magi in Matthew 2 does not say this as other stories do, but I think once again Mary must have treasured these words in her heart (Luke 2:19). What a lot she had to ponder and pray about concerning this little son of hers.

Today as I read the news reports of the storming of the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., and looked at the shocking photos of people climbing in through smashed windows, Capitol staff and politicians taking protective measures, insurrectionists wandering into offices, taking selfies as they sat at politicians’ desks and wreaked havoc wherever they went, it made me so, so sad. How can all that have anything to do with a beautiful story of a group of people honoring Jesus and proclaiming him a loving Savior, like a shepherd?

Kate Bowler posted a poem — that is also a prayer — by Walter Brueggemann that resolved the incongruity I feel.

Epiphany by Walter Brueggemann

On Epiphany day,
     we are still the people walking.
     We are still people in the dark,
          and the darkness looms large around us,
          beset as we are by fear,
                                        anxiety,
                                        brutality,
                                        violence,
                                        loss —
          a dozen alienations that we cannot manage.

We are — we could be — people of your light.
     So we pray for the light of your glorious presence
          as we wait for your appearing;
     we pray for the light of your wondrous grace
          as we exhaust our coping capacity;
     we pray for your gift of newness that
          will override our weariness;
     we pray that we may see and know and hear and trust
          in your good rule.

That we may have energy, courage, and freedom to enact
         your rule through the demands of this day.
         We submit our day to you and to your rule, with deep joy and high hope.