Lord, you have examined me and you know me. Your knowledge of me is too deep, it is
beyond my understanding (Psalm 139).

Last summer I entered the dentist office alongside another patient and as we went in, she
recognized me, said hello and my name. I didn’t have a clue who she was, as we were both
wearing face masks and she had totally changed her hairstyle since we had seen one another
six months before.

I suspect that not knowing other persons will occur as long as we are unable to see their faces clearly. And it is especially difficult for many of us lip-reading folks who have hearing
impairment.

Still, one thing has not changed as we navigate these challenging days: God knows you and
me! God knows us better than we know ourselves, our abilities and shortcomings and
possibilities. How evident is God’s awareness in this week’s biblical readings!

In the story of Samuel (1 Samuel 3: 1-20) God calls a young boy who had been dedicated by
his parents Hannah and Elkanah to work in the Shiloh temple. To make a long, interesting story short, Samuel says to God, “Speak, your servant is listening.” As Samuel grows, he is blessed by God to become one of the greatest and last of Israel’s judges—like Deborah and Gideon—in that crucial century after the conquest of Canaan and before the first Israelite king.

Two adults are given an invitation in this week’s Gospel reading, John 1:43-51. Philip and
Nathanael of Galilee are recognized by Jesus soon after the calling of Andrew and Peter.
Nathanael says the oft-quoted “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip responds,
“Come and see!” The chapter ends with Jesus telling the two, “You’ll see heaven open and
God’s angels going up and down on the Son of Man.” The embodiment of salvation is in the
person of Jesus—where heaven and earth meet—in whom God saves us and all humankind.

This week we find ourselves in the heart of the Epiphany season with God urging us—through our baptismal call—to live as people of faith to pray for unity with the global Christian family. January 18 marks the Confession of Peter (“You are the Messiah, Son of the living God”) and
January 25 celebrates the Conversion of the Apostle Paul. Do we know other followers of
Christ, beyond our families and congregations? How can we express our one faith more fully?

Where does God find and know you? In isolation in a care facility? In a tent along the
Willamette River in West Salem? En route to work (carpool, plane or public transport)? In a
refugee camp anywhere on the planet? Serving others in a disaster zone, COVID test site or
feeding station / food bank?

We gain strength from Samuel, Philip and Nathanael! Is God calling you to change your daily
routine to meet someone for the first time and begin a lasting friendship? Will you explore an
untapped ability to serve your faith community or explore a new career or hobby to be able to serve God more capably?

In the Prayer of the Day for this Sunday, we ask God to “lead us to perfect faith in Christ.” We are in the lifelong endeavor empowered by the Holy Spirit to be known by our Creator and to be led in Word and Sacrament to serve others. This eternal adventure comes to fulness when
we meet God face to face, knowing God fully, without earthly obstacle or temptation.

~ Ed Brandt