Word to the Wise
Sunday, January 7, 2007 - Feast of the Epiphany
[Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:2-3A, 5-6; Matthew 2:1-12]Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage."
This very innocent question set in motion a murderous sequence of events because it was asked of Herod! What if it were asked of us? What if someone asked us about the birth of Jesus? What if that person or persons said that something unusual, even something in the stars, had happened and they felt called to look for Jesus? Would we turn them away? Would we turn to scripture? After all, Herod called in the chief priests and scribes to find out where the Messiah was to be born and they quoted from the prophet, Micah! The charm of the Magi and, indeed, Matthew's meaning of them, is that they ARE from far away, and had seen a sign. In ancient times, the birth of an important person was always reported with indications of special signs in the heavens, etc. This would have been nothing unusual to report. What frightened Herod was the implication of that birth! One wonders if we simply wrap the Magi up each year (indeed with the star too!) and put them away without wondering why they are part of the crib set. At least Herod took them seriously! Epiphany means to "shine out." Can we take a moment on this feast which is very much a part of Christmas, and wonder why this is reported in the gospel? The Wise Men, Kings, Magi may have something to teach us. AMEN
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