Today
as I travel and journey through the heat back towards home I am thinking of the
Epiphany and the heritage we have from what is called the manifestation of God
to us in various ways through Jesus. Jesus is in the heritage of Israel. The
beginning of Matthew’s Gospel makes it clear: Jesus is the son of David, the
son of Abraham. In today’s text, the story takes a different turn. Wise ones
(Magi) from the east come to Jerusalem; they have seen his star. This means
something. These wise ones, astrologers, outsiders, most likely from what is
now Iraq, come to the Holy City; they ask around . . . “What can all of this
mean?” They have come to the right place, to the place where the Scriptures are
read and known and interpreted.
Herod
the King overhears the news about their presence and their quest,
and
he calls a meeting of these interpreters of the sign and writings. “Where is
this Messiah going to be born?” he asks. “In Bethlehem,” they tell him, to
fulfill
the
word of the prophet. Our current scripture offers us layers of meaning. Jesus
is born in Bethlehem is the first. Bethlehem literally means “house of
bread”—the
place
we are called to, the place where we will be spiritually nourished, the place
where our hungers will cease. Even the outsiders are seeking something that
only Jesus can provide. Jesus will later profess, “I am the bread of life. . ..
The bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the
world”.
They
go to Bethlehem; they continue their search. They are wise, they have talents,
and they know how to read the signs. God uses their natural gifts to come to the
place where the Messiah is born. There they are overwhelmed with joy. Can you
recall a time when you were overwhelmed with joy? I can remember some
experiences that were incredible, filled with wonder and gave me a sense that
all time was standing still, that this was the only place to be in the
universe! Some of these experiences involved being at the top of a mountain in
New Zealand having spent effort and time climbing through awesome beauty to be
there.
A
child is born. The wise ones witness the Messiah. They have been led to just
this place. They have been called for this time and they know it. It is an
epiphany, a manifestation of God; it is right before their eyes and they are
overwhelmed with joy. The wise ones have turned their eyes upon Jesus. The
things of earth, including the Herod's of the world, have become strangely dim.
In this moment there is glory and grace and they are overwhelmed—overwhelmed
with
joy.
What
do we do when we are overwhelmed with joy? We respond in some way. They offer
gifts. Now, anyone who has attended a few Christmas pageants along the way is
aware of this part of the story: gold (symbolising security and wealth),
frankincense (symbolising power), and myrrh (symbolising death). The Magi offer
these costly, meaningful gifts. They have completed their journey. Now they go
back to their lives; they go back home. But again, the Scriptures always have
layers of meaning. The Magi go back a different way to avoid Herod. They now
know that Jesus is a sign of God’s love for the world. Herod is about hatred;
Jesus is about love. So they go back a different way. Once we have met Jesus
Christ, we go about our lives in a different way.
We
have that opportunity at the beginning of the New Year. You are invited to take
part in this journey and be transformed. The epiphany of the Lord is finally a
tale of transformation, and, at the beginning of a calendar year, it offers to
us the possibility, once again, of our own transformation. We turn, we repent,
we focus, we reflect, and we seek the face of God. We are changed; we are
transformed.
This well-known
story about gifts received and later shared reminds us as well that transformation
is not our achievement but God’s intervention, God’s gift.
Meeting Jesus can change us. Maybe you have come
from some secular place that seems far away, or maybe God has given you some
clues, some signs, and you have found yourself here, now. So, a path is set
before you: focus—turn your eyes upon Jesus. Reflect and receive—you will be
overwhelmed with joy. You will return, to your world, and enter this New Year
in a different way. Let us set out for the journey!
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