January 7, 2018

 Epiphany of the Lord Isaiah 60: 1-6; Ephesians 3: 2-3, 5-6; Matthew 2: 1-12 Today is the feast of the Epiphany. I read recently of the funeral of one of the European monarchs. Listed in the article were the number of royalty who would be in attendance. I am sure when this monarch was born, news spread not only to his own subjects but also to royalty everywhere. It is shocking that the first people to recognize Jesus, the newborn King of the Jewish people, the long waited for Messiah, were local shepherds summoned by the announcement of the angels. Then Magi from the East came for this world shattering event. They were definite outsiders, followers of Zoroaster. They had followed a star believing that great people at their birth often were said to have their own star designating their importance. Jesus was born in humble surroundings. Herod the Great lived in luxury; the magi came to him but he was afraid of anyone usurping his crown. Scripture says that Herod was greatly disturbed. This was definitely not a good sign to those in his court and his subjects. Beware! With this much drama am I caught up in the God events? The shepherds and magi were excited to say the least, how excited am I at the birth of Jesus? If I’m not excited each year am I missing something? What do I look forward to when Christmas comes: the gifts…family gatherings…special meal…? What is the importance of this day to me? Mary and Joesph had no idea of how these days would progress. Joseph just wants to find a peaceful place so that Mary could deliver her miracle baby. They were writing the narrative as they went along. All they had to go on was their faith and the trust they had in God and in each other. These events were different. Mary delivered in some sort of cave or shelter for animals. Joseph tried to make it as comfortable and warm as possible. They were alone. It seems that sometime after the birth and the people from the tribe of David had gone to their homes, there was lodging available. Mary and Joseph found a suitable house. I imagine there was a knock on the door, and Joseph opened it in amazement, maybe in horror, maybe even in fear. Here was an intimidating sign of strangely dressed upper class individuals with their advisors and servants. They probably spoke Hebrew and Aramaic but with a heavy accent. They had camels, horses, carriages, whatever they needed for the large group traveling with them. How many were they: we imagine there were three because Matthew lists three gifts. An Eastern tradition said the number was twelve. Let’s say there was a number of them, all at the door wanting to worship, adore, pay tribute to, look at, hopefully even touch this newborn king. They came and presented their gifts and left. The total price of these gifts were astonishing to Joseph and Mary. They had never seen anything more beautiful and definitely more expensive. What to do? Trust in God and in each other. After the Magi left King Herod, the royal court did not return to normal. Who is this newborn king? What does this seeing his star in the heavens mean? What am I dealing with? Do the people think that this person will replace me? I have bribed my way into this great ‘king’ position by paying off Rome. Do you think that some ‘nobody’ is going to take this away from me? FIND OUT all the information you can…and assemble the guards and troops…there is big trouble brewing. I am King…no one else. Has the story begun to grip me? Am I excited yet…am I seeing what all this means to me? Could part of the message from God to us involve the gifts the magi brought? Gold is a precious metal, frankincense was a rich perfume, and myrrh was an oil for anointing. These gifts are hugely valuable. They didn’t give the gifts to Mary or to Joseph but to the baby, the newborn Savior of the World. A wonderful reflection is to take time and look at myself and especially at the gifts that the Holy Spirit has blessed me and what am I doing with these gifts? - What is special in my eyes—are they gentle and caring? Are they alert to what is going on? Can they see problems before they even surface? Can they imagine helpful healing? - What is special about my hands? Are they capable of helping and gently caring for people in need? Are they able to fix things? Can they bring comfort with a gentle touch or a caring, forgiving hug? - What is special about my ears? Am I gifted in hearing the whole story rather than what I want to hear? Can I tell a cry for help from a plea of mercy? Can I hear someone hurting in a noisy room or among non-caring people? Can I hear the call for help, companionship, friendship, love? Do I find it easy to respond when I am aware? - What is special about my mouth? How often does a smile surface on my face? Do my eyes light up when I smile, making my whole face alive with goodness? Do my words concentrate on me or do I respond to the hurt I see and hear from people I’m with? Can I call back the venom that comes when things are wrong within me, in order to see a person in need in front of me? Are my words kind, is care in them? - What is special about my heart? Do I have a ‘heart of gold’ or a ‘heart of stone’? When I see pain, suffering, violence in real life or on TV or in at the movies am I drawn to be a healer? A listener? A responder? Do I have the heart of Jesus? Am I the light of Christ? The problem and the message in the feast of the Epiphany is found in the example of Herod. His response to the threat the Magi presented of this ‘rival king’ was automatic. This child must be done away with. Herod seems to have no interest in finding out the truth of the child…is this child the Messiah? If he is the Messiah could he be of help to the nation and the world? Herod would not go there. This child is a threat to my rule, nothing comes in my way. He must have known of all the great things that were anticipated to come to the Jewish nation from the Messiah. He must have been aware of the hope for a great spiritual revival the prophets foretold, yet this was a threat to his power, his rule. NOW is my life about me or is it about God? IT is remarkable how easily we can manufacture reasons to justify me. A total self interest can blind me, even to God. AGAIN, is it about me or about God? Is it about me knowing I am loved and needed by God to be an example of love or is it about loving me? My gifts are meant for others to see God and know they are loved. Help Me Lord. Sacred Space 2018 says: “There is a Bavarian custom of chalking G M B (Gaspar, Melchior, Balthasar) on the wall of each room of the house on Epiphany morning. These are the names that tradition assigns to the Magi, representing all the nations of the world. More and more, the nations of the world move to our shores and come into our homes. If the Magi arrived here today, would they be welcome? When people come to my home, Lord, do they discover You there? If justice and love are to be found in my home, then visitors, like the Magi, will be overwhelmed with joy, and they will pay You homage.”