Sermons Archive

Epiphany
The Rev. Janice Robinson
January 6, 2008

This story of the coming of the Magi has been told so often through poems, pictures, and music. I daresay that anyone here this morning could retell it in their own words. Places of worship have developed their own traditions around this story. We are no different. You will note at the Offertory, we have three young people dressed rather elaborately, who process in singing a verse from a favored carol, “We Three Kings…” The meanings attached to the story have been varied over time.

I borrowed a portion of the title of this sermon from the famed preacher, The Rev. Barbara Brown-Taylor, who has written a book by the title, By Another Way” You will see “why” of this shortly. One of the continuing understandings of this story is that it tells us that God sent God’s Son not only to Israel, but to the whole world. When we look at who were the first to know of the child’s birth, outside of his parents, we note a representation of all of creation. There were the angels, the animals, the shepherds, and the wise folks. Celestial, human, of high birth and low birth and the animals. Another beginning.

Throughout time God had searched for ways to get the message across to creation that God loved all that God had created. God tried by selecting a people to get the word, and asked that they spread it through out the world. Because the message got twisted, God sent multiple messengers to the various generations. First, while the people still saw God as their King, Judges were anointed to bring God’s message of love to the people, and to help them adjudicate conflicts. That wasn’t sufficient for the people; they wanted kings like their neighbors although God had said that they were not to be like everybody else.

After awhile, the kings proved not to be the best messengers either. Then God sent prophets with warnings, as well as messages of hope, and new possibilities in the midst of their most difficult times, e.g. enslaved in Babylon. Finally, God said he would get his message through, “by Another Way”. God will not be out done. Whatever it takes to get through to you and me, God will do. God’s next move was to send God’s Son to carry the same message. It was announced first to a disbelieving priest, named Zechariah. HE couldn’t fathom that God would make possible what was impossible for human beings. Next it was announced to a young girl, named Mary that she was to be the vessel through which God’s message would take human form. Then the announcement was made to shepherds, the outcasts of their community, and finally to a group of strangers who were not part of the community of Israel.

This last move has, like Christmas (the Incarnation), and Easter, (the Resurrection) captured our imagination. While many have waxed eloquent, we really don’t know very much about this event. We do not know how long the trip took, where did the wise folk meet up with each other, as they came from different countries? How old was Jesus when they arrived? We are only told that there were wise folk, not the number, at least not by Matthew, who followed a star in the sky to find a place where a new king was to be born. This was a special king, whose birth had been foretold in ancient texts.

If we allow this story to come alive within us we can come to the most important part of the event, its meaning. God loves everyone; Israel of old and new Israel, us Christians. God’s love is manifested in human form. A form God pronounced good at creation. As a vulnerable human infant, God tells us that it is not power and wealth that is important. God also tells us that if you seek God you will find God as the wise folk did so long ago. Let go of the limits we place around how God will make an appearance and simply be open to a variety of possibilities.

Our search needs to be internal as well as external, in other people, but if we are earnest we will find God. As we journey we will gain insight and wisdom as did those folks who came upon the king for whom they searched. They were willing to surrender all that they had to find this king. There were surely distractions for each of them, yet, they never lost sight of the end of their search.

Through our own journeys we too have found that there are distractions, obstacles that keep us from seeing the goal we seek, Jesus. We are challenged to follow the Light that has come, so that we may be drawn ever closer to the Christ, to God. Sometimes we’re too tired, or there’s too much to do and too many demands being made upon our attention, or we’re depressed, our hearts bowed so low, we can’t see ahead, or maybe we’re too anxious, unnerved by every shadow to see the Light that beckons us. For others, cynicism, doubt, fear, or any combination of these keeps them from seeing the Light. Yet it is in recognizing the diversions that we can “set out” again. The wise folks traveling to Bethlehem were aware that King Herod made them uneasy. How was it that this king knew nothing of the king they sought, and would have them go and find him and bring back word to let him know? What would he do if he found this new “king”?

As the wise folks had respect for Herod, we too must respect those distractions that would keep us from our intended end. We cannot afford to deny their existence, or refuse to pay heed to them, as they can prevent us from reaching our journey’s end. This recognition will allow us to take a measure of ourselves and circumstances, to regroup and “set out” again on our journey. That which is worth searching for, will also cause us to make sacrifices to achieve. Perhaps we each must face into the question, what are we willing to sacrifice to see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ?

Upon finding our hearts desire will we, like the wise folks before us, fall to our knees, even metaphorically speaking, and offer gifts? The gifts this child wants can not be purchased in a mall store, nor the corner Convenience Mart, in fact they can’t purchased at all. They were given to us by the One whom we seek. Offering the best that is within us is all that it takes. Offering the best that we have at the moment of an encounter with another will bring such a bright smile to the Lord that we can not help but see the Light of Christ in another human face.

As God has searched in the past and continues to search today for “Another Way” to let us know of the divine love that is ours, may we also search by “another way” through the conflicts that we have; through the confusion that threatens to rob us of understanding; through the anxiety that keeps us from noticing one another’s need; through the hopelessness that would keep us from persisting in our quest; through the fear of loss that would keep us from making needed connections with one another, to see the glory of God in relationships with one another. We would see Jesus, God’s love made manifest! It will take all that we have, but then God was willing to give all to reconcile with you and me. God would have us come home, if not by one way, then by “Another Way”.

Amen!