Bearing Witness to the Light
I love the liturgy for Lessons and Carols that includes the Bidding Prayer we shared on Christmas Eve:
Dear People of God: this year, more than ever, we yearn for the message and power of Christmas. In the story of God’s unwavering love and steadfast commitment we hear words of consolation and hope for a world torn apart by violence and war. In this dark time of fear and violence in the world, it is the promise of peace on earth and goodwill among the peoples of the world that, like a shining star, draws us to the stable in Bethlehem. There we find, wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger, the child in whom the hopes and fears of all the years are reconciled for ever.
As we stand on the threshold of a New Year, the story of Epiphany comes to us as good news. We yearn for the message and power of Christmas.
Of all the four gospels, only Matthew tells the wondrous story of the visit of the magi that we celebrate on Epiphany. It is a story that comes to us with good news as we mark a New Year.
In his recent commentary on Matthew (2006), Stanley Hauerwas of Duke observes that sentimentality is one of the greatest enemies of understanding the gospel, especially the Christmas story and the events surrounding the birth of Jesus. Our sentimentality can eclipse what the text reveals and doesn’t reveal. A good example of that is the story of the Magi. When we hear the story retold or we see it illuminated in pictures, we more often see three men, dressed in royal garb, journeying to Bethlehem on camels bearing gifts.
We don’t know that there were three. That particular number was a later century attribution to match the three gifts mentioned. We sing the story: “We three kings of orient are….” but the wise men were not kings. In the ancient world in the region of Persia and Babylonia, a magos (which is the singular of magi) was a wise man or astrologer who specialized in the reading of the stars. They would have taken to any anomaly in the heavens because they looked for signs. They noticed something that apparently escaped the noticed of ordinary people.
Matthew was piecing this marvelous mystery together. Writing to a Jewish audience, he paid particular attention to the presence of Gentiles and saw it as a fulfillment to OT prophecy. Matthew makes more reference to the Hebrew Scriptures than any of the four gospel writers. You may have noticed that already in our Isaiah text when we read:
the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will appear over you.
Nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
The prophet when talking about a coming day of hope, even mentions gold and frankincense and people being led by a great light.
The Christmas narrative is greatly enriched by Matthew’s inclusion of this story. Matthew’s purpose in writing his gospel was to reveal to his Jewish audience, the authenticity of Jesus as the Messiah.
It begins with the story of the Magi. These inquisitive searchers journeyed to the center of political power in Jerusalem. Astrologers in those days understood the heavens as having geographical references. Certain parts of the heavens were thought to pertain to specific countries. Thus the star over Bethlehem occurred in the part of the heavens associated with Israel. The wise men, following the light of a star, came to Jerusalem—the center of action–thinking, surely this is the place.
They entered the Royal Court where Herod gave an audience to these foreign guests. They inquired of him: ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’ Their words about another king were disconcerting. Matthew writes: Herod was frightened and all Jerusalem with him.
King Herod called a hasty conference of his scholars to search the ancient scriptures for reference to this celestial event. They did and they reported back to him:
‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
“And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.” ’
Upon hearing this, Herod sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.”
When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
Sentimentality does not need to water down the meaning of our Epiphany celebration. The good news of Epiphany is the good news of the angel to the shepherds: I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people.
Barbara Brown Taylor said: “The only condition for joy is the presence of God…which means that it can erupt in a depressed economy, in the middle of a war, or in an intensive care waiting room…it is a gift.”
As 2010 begins, there is enough darkness in the world to affect all of us. This year more than ever, we yearn for the message and power of Christmas.
For some of you, this year has marked sadness and grief in your life. For others, the economic fear in our nation has threatened what you once thought was a secure plan for the future. Others are caring for aging parents. Still others carry burdens for your children or family. Add to these the overwhelming needs of the world that bombard us each and every day. Epiphany reminds us that God is still leading us. The good news of Epiphany for us is that the Light of Christ is promised to us. Whatever our current circumstance, whatever our present fears or anxieties, the light of Christ will lead us into this New Year. We are called to trust. The epiphany of God’s presence is not marked on a calendar, it is present every day. The apostle Paul said:
For it is the God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness’, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Cor. 4:6)
Together on our journey we watch for God’s leading. As we are conscious of God’s presence, may we in this year in all we do, reflect this light as a beacon of hope in our world.
Amen.
-Rev. Mark Frykholm
Tags: Gospel of Matthew, II Corinthians, sermons