The Wisemen Were Not There?

This is the Sunday we will celebrate as our Epiphany.  Anyone know what the season of Epiphany is?  The Epiphany marks the end of the 12th day of Christmas for Christians.   It started on Dec 25^th and runs through to Jan 6^th the day of Epiphany.  The word Epiphany comes to us from the Greek language and means "manifestation". Since the 4th century, Christians have associated the day of Epiphany, the 12^th day of Christmas as the day the Magi came, which suggests that they could not have been there at Jesus’ birth.   Matthew is the only Gospel which recorded their journey and visit.  When you hear the reading from Matthew today I want you to listen very closely to his account.  You may just get a surprise and hear the revelation.    

Dec 31, 2017 Readings:  Ephesians 3: 1-12, Matthew 2: 1-12

From the Matthew reading, did anyone hear something new?     

First question: How many of you still have your Christmas tree up?

Second question: On the top of your Christmas tree, did anyone have a star or an angel?   The reason I asked the first question is this:  to establish the Christmas season.  For Christians the spirit of Christmas is celebrated not just on one day, but for 12 days.  It starts on Dec 25^th runs to Jan 6^th.  Now if you took your tree down early that's OK folks because trees are nice but they did not exist in the early middle east celebrations.   The 12^th day of Christmas is known as Epiphany and because it falls usually on a week day, we usually celebrate it on the Sunday before.    This is the day Christians would set aside to commemorate the visit by the Magi.  Matthews’s gospel is the only written account of their visit and it suggests that they were not there during the birth but arrived at a home in Bethlehem some time later to visit Mary and the child. We know this to be true because Herod ordered after the Wisemen did not return to him that all male children up to two years of age in the region including Bethlehem, be killed.          

The reason I asked the second question is: It has been suggested that there are two types of Christmas people, star people and angel people. Let me explain. 
Biblically, the Angel represents a messenger.  In the Christmas story, Angels always seem too appeared to those who, not only knew the ancient prophecies but also had enough faith to believe that they would be fulfilled.  On the other hand, it was much different for the star gazers, those who knew of the prophecies but only believe them as legends or stores.  Angels show up early in the Christmas story and continue right through until the birth of Christ.  Marry and Joseph were the first and the shepherds were among the last.  Angels did not point the way to Christ but spoke to persons specifically about who, what and where they were to find the awaited messiah.  The significance of an Angel meant a great deal too the Hebrew people of Jesus’ time.  

The Star also had it significance, it was a sign of those searching, not only those who were of Jewish descent but those who were of a different culture and religion.  Star people were curious seekers interested in knowing but were still unsure, with doubt and questions.  The star represented those on a quest to find out about this mystery and its message from God.  A divine child wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manager?   I believe we are a mixture of both angel and star people.

In the story Angle people are people with roots that are already planted deep in scripture and their faith has become unshakeable.  Angel people believe not because they need to see, but because the voice of God has somehow spoken to their hearts.  Star People are seekers, curious by nature yet sill a little unsure, their roots are seeking to go deeper into the mystery of faith but they are not there yet.  What we must remember here is this:  God meets people wherever you are on your faith journey. 

The Magi or Wiseman in the story were guided by the star.  Because the Star did not speak, it only pointed the way for them, as they journeyed to Bethlehem.    

There are two very important points that are generally missed from the story of the Magi:  The first point is this: preparation.  We often do a great job preparing for the secular Christmas but what about the real meaning, how did your preparations do there?   It is important to note, that the Magi must have spent a great deal of time and energy studying the Hebrew Scriptures and the ancient Jewish prophecies before they began their journey.   The second point is this: these scriptures were not part of their background or their religion.  They were people of the stars, astronomers, astrological thinkers, possibly Greek.  Today we might call them men of science or visionaries or people who think outside the box.  They were seekers of the mysteries of creation, seeking a new kind of King and His Kingdom.   They were apparently open minded to foreign ideas and religions.   They were not confined by a religious tradition or doctrine as so many Christians are today.   They were true seekers and in the end, they were finders.  That, I believe is the lesson for us today, you cannot find the Jesus you need to know personally, by relying on religious tradition, doctrine or one interpretation of faith.  Nor by listing to a weekly sermon or by watching others who seem to have great faith.  It starts with preparation, reading and studying the word of God that is rooted in the Christ, this is where you will find the wisdom to guide you in life.  It is Jesus’ reflection shining through us that is attractive to others as we live out God’s peace, joy, hope, and love for them to see.

So I believe these two things are significant in order to make a connection with our Lord and they are again:  the willingness to personally prepare oneself by reading and studying, and to be open to the spirits leading so you can live out your faith by doing as Jesus did. 

We need the scriptures just as much as we need to see His light cast by faithful disciples and witnesses doing the work of Christ in our world today.

 Do not be afraid to think outside the box, for when you do this, you to just might find “The Christ” in your midst.   May the Lord Bless and Keep you as we conclude our Christmas season and begin the new year of 2018.