January 6, 2008 – The Day of the Epiphany
Matthew 2:1-12
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Hard to believe we’re all through the 12 Days of Christmas, from the light of Christmas Eve to the Light of Epiphany, a major theme in the season just begun. After all the anticipation; the celebration; the wonder of the holy night with the candles flickering and carols sung, we might be wondering, where does the spirit of Christmas go? And now it’s January 6, and it’s
time to drag out the tree (you haven’t taken your decorations down yet, have you? Shame on you…there are TWELVE days of Christmas!) At any rate, it’s time to straighten the house
and get back to school and return to work. But how can the spirit of Christmas change us all year long? Perhaps we should leave one Christmas decoration out through the year to remind us of the warmth and the family, of the peace and reunion, of the love and spirit of Christmas. Or perhaps we might learn something new from our reading today.
The Greatest Story Ever Told begins in the truth and history of the Bible, as well as the legends we have brought into our telling of the Christmas story. Historically, there indeed was a man named Herod who had been crowned “King of the Jews” by his alignment with Rome. In fact, it was Marc Antony (you’ll remember Caesar’s associate from history) who assisted Herod in his overthrow of Antigonus II, the former king. Herod ruled from 37-4 B.C. (hence the birth of Jesus must have been no later than 4 B.C.) but the date was adjusted later by the re-do of the Roman calendar.
The Magi, on the other hand, are mostly known through legends. We call them “wise men,” but what we know about them is that they were astrologers from Persia (modern day Iraq) and they were interpreters of dreams. They were sort of the ancient “Psychic hotline,” dealing in fortune telling and tarot cards. In fact, the title “magi” is the root for our words “magic” and “magician.”
Neither were great or fitting “witnesses” to the Christ event. Herod was a Roman parasite, a patriarch to a dysfunctional family who we will meet again in a few weeks, when Jesus comes up against Herod’s son, Herod Antipas. The Magi were Gentiles, non-religious, and would have been considered heretics by the Jewish culture who did not accept astrology or horoscopes. As far as we know from the scriptural witness, they were not kings, and we don’t know if they were wise. The Bible doesn’t tell us there were three of them, nor what their names were, although the indication is that they most probably did not arrive on Christmas Eve! In fact, if they say the star at its rising, it may have taken them two whole years to arrive, by which time Mary and the baby (no Joseph) were found in a house. The legends inform our story, but the story in Matthew kind of makes you want to get back to Luke’s pastoral scene of shepherds, sheep and angels in the heavens!
Still, the Magi play a large part in Matthew’s telling. For him, these travelers are used symbolically, guided by the Light (or a Star,) to pay homage (worship) the babe of Bethlehem, and to provide the counterpoint to Herod’s desire to “worship” as well. But Matthew is not impressed – his major theme (which we will hear about over the next year of gospel readings,) is “repentance.” In fact, Matthew tells of Jesus making a point about the fact that you can worship and still not repent. “These people worship me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” (15:3-9.) For repentance implies change. Herod feared any change to his kingdom, his power, his authority. The Magi on the other hand, lived for adventure – for new stars, new signs, new directions, and were open to “going home by another way.” And they brought gifts. In a few moments we will sing “We Three Kings” and hear again the phrase, “bearing gifts we traverse afar.” For the Magi came guided by Light, they brought generous, expensive, extravagant gifts and then they departed. However, in giving their gifts, they are changed.
Haven’t you been touched in this way by a gift that embodied much more than itself? Not touched so much because of the gift, but by the love it represents? Often, the effect of gifts given changes the giver as well. So, perhaps, sustaining the “Spirit of Christmas” means NOT just fulfilling wishes that were made for a season, and will soon pass away, but perhaps sustaining the spirit of Christmas means “returning” by another way – making sure our encounter with the Christ child changes our lives so that we do not go back to the way we were – and making sure our love shines beyond the “stuff,” into the hearts of the ones who are gifted.
Think about how your love has shined. What gifts have you brought? Oh, not the ones you just wrapped up in pretty paper and gave over the holidays, but the gifts that you bring routinely to all those people around you. What do you bring to each other? Romance? Humor? Companionship? Calm? Forgiveness? Joy?
Pastor Roger shared with me a story that ran in The Washington Post on December 22. It is a story of love and friendship, and begins with two neighbors, Richard and Steve, who became friends in 1995, especially because they shared a love for Christmas decorations and were madly competitive. In fact, the entire neighborhood knew them as “illumination artists” and once these two guys started trying to one-up each other, now one else even tried to complete. Theirs was the only game in town, until last Thanksgiving when Richard’s wife, Eileen died. Steve was the first one there, and every day he continued to stop around and talk with Richard - rarely about lights or pranks – but always there, always checking in.
This Thanksgiving, about the time their furious rivalry would begin anew each year, Steve noticed that there were a houses that had put up some lights on the block, and so he brought up the subject ever so delicately – might Richard want to go take a look. So after some encouragement, they stood in the street looking at the neighbor’s feeble attempt at decorations.
Steve broke the silent assessment first, “What do you think? You want to put up a few?”
“Not yet. Too soon,” Richard replied.
“OK,” says Steve. “I won’t throw them up until you throw some up.”
A few days later Steve comes home to find Richard’s house ablaze with some 4,000 lights.
“What the heck! You said not this year!”
“I changed my mind. Tough break, man. But you’d better get moving if you want to catch up.”
By Wednesday, Steve admitted defeat. He brought himself by Richard’s house to make the declaration, but added his challenge for the future, “…I’m gonna have so many lights next year, people will be tanning in my driveway!”
To which Richard replied sagely, “Talk is cheap – Light speaks wonders…”
Indeed, talk is cheap, but the Light of Christ that we bring as a gift to those in darkness speaks wonders. In fact, it speaks of the Spirit of Christmas. Amen.
Note: The Washington Post article, “Let There Be Light: Christmas Display Rivalry, 12 years Strong, is Both Bond and Balm” by William Wan, Washington Post Staff Writer, appeared on Saturday, December 22, 2007; A01.
