Collect for the Third Sunday of Epiphany:

Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

I am aware that I have a habit of saying, “Now, that’s good news!” But, I believe we must be heralds of good news. Heaven knows bad news thunders round the clock, so when we hear good news, we must broadcast it with similar passion.

This collect is packed with good news: the good news that God’s grace enabled us to answer his call of salvation; the good news that God’s grace empowers us to proclaim his salvation to all people; and the good news that God’s grace opened our eyes to his magnificent work.

As I read this collect, my mind turned to two Scriptures. First, I remembered Paul’s words to the Corinthians: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). God’s gracious call to salvation is just that, a call to a brand new beginning. Now, that’s good news!

Then, I remembered Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians, and by extension for us:

“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe” (1:18–19).

He goes on to identify that great power with the power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him at the right hand of God the Father, and the power that enables us to grasp his deep and unmeasurable love in Christ. Now, that’s also good news!

This good news, whether heard for the first time or for the thousandth time, compels us to go and scream it from the mountains and tell it to the masses! May the Lord give us grace to achieve such a great mission.