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Good Samaritan United Methodist Church 19624 Homestead Road, Cupertino, California 94087 - 408-253-0751 - goodsam.info |
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“The Methodical Journey of the Magi” January 6, 2008 Epiphany
Matthew 2: 1 - 12 Rev. Kristie Olah
The Good Samaritan United Methodist Church
Have you put away your crèches yet? It is always hard for me to do, because I think each one is uniquely beautiful. Creches often capture the special moment of Christmas when shepherds and sheep, wisemen and camels all gathered around the Baby Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes.
Of course, that may not be exactly how it happened, according to the Bible. To be true to the Gospel accounts in Luke and Matthew, we need to separate things a bit perhaps by dates and participants.
Christmas belongs almost entirely to Luke, who describes singing angels, astonished shepherds, and a manger for a bed. Matthew, in contrast, gives us Christmas in a phrase: Joseph “took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son, and he named him Jesus.” That’s all there is.
The Magi enter in chapter 2 of Matthew, key figures in a tale that evolved into the celebration we call Epiphany. The magi traveled from afar, seeking the new king of the Jews. When they bowed before Jesus, they recognized him as God’s Messiah who would redeem all people. This moment defines Epiphany, which is also known as Twelfth Night in some settings.
Epiphany has been observed as a Christian feast day since the 3rd century, about one hundred years before Christians began to celebrate Christmas. Yet, today, many Western Christians barely notice Epiphany.
Perhaps we have become lost in the unanswered questions of the Bible story. Just how many wise men were there? Three for the three gifts? Or were there more? The Bible doesn’t say.
When did the magi find the child? When Jesus was a babe in the manger, or two years later, when Jesus was at home with his mom in Bethlehem? The Matthew story continues with Herod ordering the death of all children two years old and younger. Because Jesus was already two?
And what were the magi? Wise men, rich kings, or fanciful magicians? Most probably they were learned astronomers, perhaps of a priestly class from Persia or Babylonia. But the Bible says nothing of their names or ethnicities.
With so many probablys and maybes, we might dismiss the story all together. But then we would miss the point, and we might miss an epiphany. Matthew has shared a story of great adventure, of seeking the holy. Determined men ventured out, strangers from a strange land on a journey of discovery.
As I read this passage again this year, looking for a Word to offer today, what jumped out for me was that these men could not have just happened to look up, see a star, and take off on a journey. No, they had studied the stars and the Hebrew Scriptures from scrolls already hundreds of years old even in their time. And a journey of such distance would require gathering many supplies.
They must have been very methodical magi, whose diligence was rewarded with the revelation of God’s holy son, Jesus.
What I heard God speaking to me was, Woman…if YOU seek me and my grace and wisdom, you need to be methodical, too! At least that’s how it came to me about 3 am one night a couple weeks ago. So this Methodist is starting off the new year with a more methodical approach to my faith journey.I purchased this book, “A Disciple’s Journal,” several months ago. Now I am going to use it. It is produced by an agency of the United Methodist Church. There are two pages for each week of the year, with Bible readings and a place for prayer concerns.
But the heart of the journal is space to reflect on how I have lived out my faith by loving God and neighbor each week. The book is an invitation to follow John Wesley’s General Rule of Discipleship. Now that sounds methodical! Wesley believed we need to
live out our faith in a balanced way, so he wrote this rule on how to be disciples of Jesus:“To witness to Jesus Christ in the world, and to follow his teachings through acts of compassion, justice, worship and devotion under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.”
Wesley suggested we do works of mercy, loving our neighbors by doing good for others, and do works of piety, acts of loving and seeking God. In each area of work, we do things alone, or in private, and should also do things with others, or in public, like with our church group.
Acts of personal compassion I do by myself should be coupled with acts of justice we do together to change the world. Under works of piety, my personal acts of devotion such as prayer or Bible study should be paired with things we do together like this worship service. Thinking about what I do in each area gives more discipline than I tend to have, but I expect this approach will stretch me and open new ways for me to see Christ and be Christ in the world.
This way of thinking about being a disciple is also behind some new small groups we are developing here at Good Sam. Your leaders are being more disciplined in inviting us all to stretch and grow our faith. We are creating options for some of us who are new to faith or to the church, and for longtimers, too, and for various interests. Mark Teagle is leading a group, I am leading one, Rebecca Ross and Dave Paulson, too.
Why? Because getting together is important. We need companions for the journey, people to wrestle faith questions with us, or simply accompany us along the way. John Wesley believed good conversations with other Christians would open up new revelations or insights to us that would never occur to us alone. He called these conversations, Christian conference.
Wesley tried to gather people to faith through his preaching and then nurture them in smaller groups. He believed it made a difference. He once wrote about the preaching that had occurred in Pembrokeshire, England. Many new people had come to know Jesus. But, there were no follow-up groups. So, Wesley wrote, “And the consequence is, that nine in ten of the once-awakened are now faster asleep than ever!” In every location, Wesley formed gatherings called societies and smaller groups called classes or bands.Wesley’s ideas hold true today. Christianity is not a personal, hide away and figure it out all by yourself faith. It’s best done together.
I know. For the last several months I have participated in a covenant group with 5 other pastors. We have discovered that our material, while interesting, really doesn’t matter. But our time and prayer together does.
So, how will we follow the magi on their journey? Will we wait for God’s light to just appear, or in this new year, might we make time and give attention to our seeking?
In many countries, Epiphany is time for a procession that includes figures dressed as the magi, as well as drummers, banner carriers, and every Christian who wants to join in. Some bring gifts. Others dance, but as we see in this view of an Ethiopian celebration, they all participate.
That is also the witness of a painting from 15th century artist Benozzo Gozzoli. The artist painted himself and his wealthy patrons into this picture, which he titled, Journey of the Magi.We are not so different, people from times long past, you, or I. We are all seeking the light in lives that are often unpredictable. With God’s help, may we support each other on our journeys, in our new and older groups, in making this church a light-filled center of hope, and in listening to the hurts and joys we carry.
For our Light has come, and in Christ, God’s love shines for us all. Amen.