The Rev. Dr. Austin Leininger
Sermon of the Sunday of the Epiphany
7 January 2018
Readings:
Isaiah 60:1-6
Ephesians 3:1-12
Matthew 2:1-12
Psalm 72:1-7,10-14
How would it feel to travel by camel, horse, and foot for over two years, only to wind up in a parochial suburb, at the door of a carpenter’s house?
What exactly is the Epiphany that this day is named for?
Three sages, astrologers from the East – the Far East, where even those in the Middle-East would call it “The East” – conferred together over the appearance of an astrological phenomenon to the West – a new star, which they witnessed at its rising.
“What must this mean?!” they asked themselves. They consulted their oracles, their prophecies, their books of wisdom, and ultimately found an obscure prophecy in the scriptures of a once great people living in the region of Jerusalem, telling of the coming into the world of a great light, signaling the arrival of a righteous and mighty king who would bring endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. The nameless three decided unanimously that this star was indeed the fulfilling of this prophecy of light, and that it could only mean the birth of this new King.
“We must set out at once,” they agreed, “for this king is somehow different from other kings – even the heavens themselves proclaim his birth with a new star as the sign of the fulfilling of his prophecy!”
With the blessing of their rulers and peoples, these three intrepid sages set out on the long journey, each bearing a gift of significant beauty, simplicity, value, and special practicality for the new king. If, as believed, the magi came from Parthia, it is a journey that would take them across three mountain ranges, across twelve rivers (including the Tigris, Euphrates, and Jordan), across vast deserts, and would span a thousand miles even if they could fly in a straight line.
For two long years, the magi followed the new King’s star, battling the elements, braving the vast wilderness, picking their path through mountains, finding shallows to ford rivers, and plotting strategic paths through treacherous deserts, all the while holding onto their faith and hope in the simple light of this auspicious star that drew them ever onward, ever closer to the child that would make their journey of lifetime worth while, that would make their lives complete.
Imagine the gathering excitement as they finally crossed the river Jordan, as they made their last day’s journey to Jerusalem, where, long ago, David sat as King of the Jews – his line culminating in the birth of this prophesied child who would be King of the Jews and usher in an unprecedented time of peace.
“Wonderful Counselor,” the prophecy called him, “prince of peace,” “mighty God,” “Almighty Father,” “Holy One,” and with his own star, even the heavens proclaimed his majesty! With the star as their guide, they came to the royal seat where they expected to find him, but something was wrong.
“Where is the child who is born, King of the Jews,” they asked in excited anticipation of Herod, who had until this point been very impressed with himself in that he could have drawn such a majestic trio from so great a distance to sit in his audience and bask in his glory.
In grave disappointment and fear, he hesitated only a moment as a sinister plan formed almost instantly in his mind.
“Let me help you find him,” Herod offered benevolently to the three magi. “I will call all of the chief priests of Jerusalem’s great temple together and we’ll discover the location of this new and majestic king!” In the meantime, please be my guests of honor!
Impatient with the delay, the Magi resigned themselves to one final day of waiting and accepted the Roman King’s invitation and hospitality.
That night, the king’s chambers were a flurry of fear, outrage, confusion, and jealousy. The chief priests and scribes, poured over the scriptures, fearful of what Herod would do to him if they betrayed the prophesied king, promised since the time of Isaiah, and even more fearful of what he would do to them if they did not. What would become of their privilege, their riches, the comfortable little niche they had carved out under Roman Rule? They decided to cooperate with Herod, after all if the promised king had indeed been born, Herod would be powerless to stop him, and if it was yet another in a long line of false-messiah’s, they would, they hoped, be rewarded for their loyalty to the king.
“Bethlehem,” they exclaimed from the scrolls of the Prophet Micah – “he is prophesied to be born in Bethlehem.”
The following morning at their audience with Herod, the magi exulted in the newfound information. This prophet, Micah, was not one of whom they had heard, but he provided the missing piece to the puzzle – at long last their journey would come to a close! They thanked Herod for his benevolence and prepared to depart for the final short leg of their long journey. “Before you go,” called Herod as the magi rose to their feet, “do return to my court after you have found the child, I too would like to meet this marvelous and majestic new king, to pay him homage!”
Nodding their assent, the magi departed with joy in their hearts, content to bring news back to Herod after completing their sojourn – a good-will mission for one of the kings under Cesar might go a long way toward opening diplomatic relations between their empires after all.
Departing from Jerusalem, they saw that the star did not, in fact, settle over Jerusalem, but that David’s ancient and royal city was simply blocking their path from seeing the true destination of the star, which, indeed, settled over Bethlehem – it’s bright and magnificent tail touching down within the very town itself.
They quickened their pace, determined to reach this mighty King without a further moment’s delay.
The glory of Jerusalem was renown across the ancient world, but this Bethlehem must somehow be the unknown jewel of modern marvel, outshining even Jerusalem itself to house this great and powerful king! The magi, each relishing the final hours of their journey, spoke little as they hurried toward their destined meeting.
Cresting the small rise leading to Bethlehem, they could see the very light of the star shining down before them. But what was this place? This wasn’t a shining and splendorous city – it was practically a dirty little hamlet compared with Jerusalem!
Nonetheless they hurried on, their piquing curiosity overshadowing their disappointment.
Coming at last to a small house, the light of the star stopped them in their tracks. The neatly stored planks and tools betrayed the home of a simple carpenter, yet it was undeniable that the star had brought them here.
“What manner of mystery is this?” They said to one another, breaking the hours of silence that had brought them from the majestic splendors of Jerusalem to the plain, practical door of this carpenter’s small, tidy house.
“Let us trust a little longer, my brothers,” said one disappointed voice among them, “the star of the king is undeniable, even in this humble setting.”
Plucking up the remains of their dignity and collectively repressing their growing angst, they knocked, almost timidly, at Mary and Joseph’s door.
Inside, the house was warm and simple. Joseph sat in a heavy, well built chair of his own crafting, working to polish a new staff with oil. “Who could that be at this late hour,” he wondered aloud to Mary, who was about to feed their young son and put him down for the night. Mary cast a worried glance after him as Joseph crossed the small room toward the door.
Outside, the magi, hearing footsteps from within the house, prepared themselves once again to meet this auspicious, yet now even more mysterious king.
Their surprise when a simple man in plain, practical clothing opened the door caused them a moment’s pause.
Joseph’s surprise when the warm light of his lamps and fire bathed the three resplendently dressed men at his threshold similarly caused him a moment’s pause.
Recovering first, Joseph caught his breath, and fumbling for the right thing to say without offending these obviously important and powerful men, said, “what can a humble craftsman be honored to make three fine lords this night?”
Clearing their heads of their surprise, the magi, having not heard a word of Joseph’s greeting, summoned the carefully rehearsed words they’d been preparing for over two years: “Blessings and Peace to you, my Lord. We have journeyed from a far to worship the newborn king, bringing him gifts befitting his majesty and promise.” And kneeling, right there on Joseph’s threshold, there in the dust of a dark and deserted street in Bethlehem, they begged audience with the one who was called in prophecy the “Prince of Peace.”
Dumbstruck, Joseph ushered them into the room where Mary and Jesus were sitting. Startled and surprised by the sudden appearance of the three men in her home, Mary sat in stark wonder as these three majestic and exotic ambassadors knelt at her feet. Priceless gifts, costing more each than Joseph would make in a lifetime of work, were placed at Jesus’ feet as each of the magi bowed his forehead to the ground in reverence.
Each magus, in turn, looked up into the child’s face after presenting his gift, and each knew, as he saw the light of that star, the light of God’s own self, burning in that child’s eyes, that their journey had been worth every hardship and every step. In this humble carpenter’s home, God’s own self had greeted them, and offered them a silent blessing – each by name, though they would never be spoken.
And so our nameless magi spent a blissful night with the holy family, and being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, each departed the following morning – their life fulfilled in that one brief encounter, face to face, with the divine and Holy child of God.
This is the Epiphany.
The personal encounter, face to face with God, in which each magus received God’s own blessing by name at Christ’s holy feet, is the story of theirs…
What’s your story?
Amen