Epiphany, of course, it could be argued, is the Biblical basis for gift-giving this time of year, since the wise men brought their presents to the baby Jesus.
And giving books seems so right — not quite the glitzy, big-item toy, but more delightful than the functional gifts of socks or gloves. If Epiphany is a time of Light breaking in, then surely books as gifts are apropos, things that help us live into the light, that can bring joy to our lives. Thank God for such graces. In our Advent Bible study last week we studied the middle of Romans 13, that bit about waking up since the Day is near, pondering what it means to put on the armor of light, to live well into the new world God has begun in Christ Jesus.
Happy gift giving in this upcoming season of Christmas. Epiphany this year of our Lord, by the way, is Thursday, January 6th. The first twenty are picture books for younger children, and the last few are novels for older kids, up through middle school or so. This, too, is a Genesis-derived creation story, but with a twist: it explains the creation of light. Brilliant stars gleamed.
Swirls of light streamed. In that once empty space, a galaxy beamed. It continues on looking at the first brilliant rays of sunrise to the bright orb of the moon, showing how light defines our days. It helps living things grow and flourish. Kids can catch fireflies in jars and play flashlight tag.
So beam like the sun; glimmer like a star. And wherever you go, dark will stop being dark. The pictures are wild, almost bizarre at times. And a great way for even reluctant readers to get a vision of how good the reading life can be.
