MSI Press Blog

  The day after Epiphany is always quieter. The star has already been followed. The gifts have already been given. The Magi have already gone home by another road. And yet — in 2026 — the day after Epiphany feels strangely louder. Because we wake up to a world still splintered by fear, suspicion, and competing truths. We wake up to neighbors who no longer trust one another. We wake up to systems that feel brittle, and communities that feel tired. Epiphany is supposed to be about revelation — the moment when the hidden becomes visible, when the light breaks in. But the day after Epiphany asks a harder question: What do we do with revelation once we have it? The Magi saw clearly — and then they acted differently They didn’t overthrow Herod. They didn’t fix the political landscape. They didn’t solve the violence of their time. But they did refuse to participate in it. They chose a different road. A quieter resistance. A small, defiant act of fidelity to what they ha...

  (illustration by Zhenya Yanovich) New political realities aside, January 6 has always been a special day. In the orthodox tradition, it is the first day of Christmas; in the Christian tradition, it is the last day of Christmas. In celebration, we offer an excerpt from Sula's book, Christmas at the Mission: Epiphany The Bible   contains only 12 mentions of the wise men (magi) and the Star of Bethlehem, but over time they have captured nearly everyone’s attention. A Christmas pageant would not be complete without the three magi, or as they are sometimes called, kings. Many nativity scenes also include the three magi. Who were they? What did they see? What did they know? Why are we enthralled with them? Well, first, they saw a star. The star is called the Star of Bethlehem because when the magi followed it, it stopped in Bethlehem over the manger where Jesus lay. The magi came from the east, following the star. They seemed to know what the star meant because on the way, the...

(illustration by Zhenya Yanovich)   GIFT EXCHANGE “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” --Isaiah 9: 1   “I’m so exhausted! I can’t wait until the holidays are over,” adults complain. The Christmas season is filled with toil and trouble. Adults are fatigued with the endless round of decorating, cooking, baking, partying, gift buying and wrapping, and fighting crowds at the mall.  “I’m so excited! I can’t wait until Christmas comes,” exclaim children. They are excited to be on vacation, escaping the toil and trouble of school. Play time begins, and they look forward to Santa coming. They enjoy the rounds of parties, time with friends, caroling, meeting Santa, and getting gifts.  Both the giving and receiving, the toil and excitement, capture the true spirit of Christmas--and make the world go around. God gives the gift of Himself in His Son. We open-heartedly receive that great gift and respond by sharing ourselves with God and one another. The f...

The following guest post comes from MSI Press author of the award-winning book,    A Theology for the Rest of Us ,    I always find such works of art fascinating in so many ways. In this case, I notice what is not present as much as what is. This gentleman appears to have lost his heart and gut (instincts?), but his brain is intact. He is alive, yes, but maybe not living. His expression is determined, but weary….or hardened. Note that he seems to be returning from some far away locale across the sea…or maybe has left the buildings and people of that much more familiar place in the background. And what of his…what? It seems too large for the briefcase of a businessman, but too small to be the suitcase of a tourist. Or is it simply a symbol of the “baggage” he carries? Finally, he is alone, with no family or companions. Is that why he is…well…empty? Spiritually speaking, there are many accounts of extraordinary figures who have found Revelation or Enlightenment or some...