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Seeing the Light Matthew 2:1 – 12; Isaiah 60:1 – 6 Driving between Union Avenue Christian Church and my home does not allow for much stargazing. On occasion, I do see the moon, but there are far too many other lights in the St. Louis sky to do much astronomical considerations. The nights, however, when I have been on the beaches of northern Michigan, I have been fascinated with the stars…tried to find some of the more well-known constellations and am fairly awestruck realizing that we are seeing some of the same stars of our ancient ancestors. Today is the day we consider that one glorious and bright star. It is interesting that the two Gospel writers, who include a birth narrative for Jesus, use entirely different images. Luke concentrates his story on Mary and her cousin Elizabeth. He also includes the shepherds. Each one of the principals is visited by angels. Matthew deals with Joseph and the wise men. The visitation to them comes through dreams and one incredible star. Today – as we celebrate Epiphany – we are called into a festival day. This is (or actually will be on January 6th) the culmination of the 12 days of Christmas. It is the time we remember God’s Word made flesh and that gifts are brought from adoring hearts throughout the world. As we consider these wise men – these magi, as some would name them – we have to wonder about their significance. They were certainly not Jewish – and so they were ‘outside’ the faith. For Matthew, the Gospel writer most concerned with integrating his story with the Jewish faith, this is a remarkable realization. Matthew did not write the narrative to include faithful rabbis coming first to adore the baby Jesus. He did not develop his story stating that the leaders of the Board of the Bethlehem congregation were first to bring gifts to this newborn babe. No, it was foreign wise men seeking…and being led by a natural phenomenon…not word of mouth, but a star in the sky. When they approached King Herod, they were given the benefit of traditional Jewish wisdom. The priests and scribes were able to head them in the direction of Bethlehem. But still, they were on a trek of amazing proportions. And what about us? First of all, are we still seeking? The coined terminology of “seekers” is used today to identify a major portion of our society. The church is one institution among many riding the wave of societal trends, but in the last 50 years, we have moved from a people who believed in and needed to belong to institutions, to those of us growing up in the 60’s who were anti-institutional, to those now when the general attitude is to ask question after question and to be on a constant trek toward more information, more discovery, more enlightenment…seekers. Seeking is good. I have greater fear for and of those who have all the answers than for those who are filled with questions. But what about following a star? These men were purported to be astronomers, and so were scientists of the day. Still, as bright as that famous star might have been, it could not have shed light enough to fully see where they were going. So it is with us. Our seeking takes giant leaps of faith. One question we have might lead to a minimal amount of reassurance – which will only open us to another immense amount of uncertainty. And we have to wonder – is this all there is? Is it enough – when we are in the grips of loneliness or grief to hang onto a moment of reassurance that God is holding us? Is it enough when we are wracked with sorrow or fear to believe that God’s love – manifest not only through Jesus Christ, but also through those surrounding us in this life – will hold us strong for the dark night? Is it enough to believe that the uncertainty about what our life means can be held and sorted through when we let go of some of the controls we have placed on ourselves and allow God to intervene? These wise men traveled many miles – following a star – just to pay homage…give gifts… come before and adore a child they thought would become a king. Surely they had better things to do…had full agendas…but just as surely they were changed by their experience…both the search and the finding. May we give thanks that the first to attend to the birth were not men of the faith, but mere seekers. This gives us hope. This also assures us that God works through God’s entire universe – and not just the church or synagogue – to reveal whatever truth and life there is. May we give thanks that the wise men had a mere star (albeit a bright one) to lead them. A star does not allow for seeing far…only step by step in the pathway of life. May we gives thanks that the wise men found their destination – this gives us hope and assurance that we may also find ours – and that God will provide a means for that search. May we give thanks that these men were changed by their experience – and thereby able to respond to God’s leading through their dreams. So may we be so changed. This is a day we celebrate ‘seeing the light’. May it be so for you. • SW |
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