Matthew 2:1-12 (NRSV)
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "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." When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he 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.
- `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.'"
Blog
Vicki K. Black writes about Epiphany in her book Welcome to the Church Year: An Introduction to the Seasons of the Episcopal Church.
Epiphany is a Greek word meaning "manifestation, showing forth, revelation." This feast proclaims our faith that in Jesus, God is revealed to all people--not just to an inner circle or a chosen few, but to all people, in all places, and throughout all time. Christians believe that in the person of Jesus we see who God is, and in the words and actions of Jesus we see God at work in the world. The Epiphany marks a series of occasions at which Jesus was revealed to be God's Son."
The Epiphany and the weeks following that feast are a time in which we reflect on several "manifestations" of Jesus, as he was recognized as the Messiah (or Christ) by many different people. We hear about Jesus' baptism in the river Jordan by John the Baptist and the visit of the magi, or wise men, who followed the star to Bethlehem at Jesus' birth. We share the amazement of the guests at the wedding party at Cana, as Jesus performs his first miracle turning water into fine wine. And we see Jesus' glory shown to three of his disciples on the mountain, as he is transfigured before them in a blaze of light.(Page 40).
The Epiphany is a very inclusive celebration. God has come to all humankind in Christ to reveal God's presence and power to change our hearts and lives. In Christ, God's presence is manifested in those who come to show homage to the Baby Jesus, in his Baptism, turning water into wine at Cana, and his transfiguration. Jesus manifests God's presence to all humankind, to all the earth, to those who are far off and those who are near. All humankind is invited and welcomed to witness the excitement and wonder of God showing God's unconditional and all-inclusive love in God's perfect revelation (or Epiphany).
As I read and wrote the quote from Vicki Black's book, I was struck by the sentence: "This feast proclaims our faith that in Jesus, God is revealed to all people--not just to an inner circle or a chosen few, but to all people, in all places, and throughout all time." The Christian Church was not suppose to become an exclusive social, political or religious club for those who see things in only one way. Jesus did not come and manifest God's presence so that a new brand of discrimination could be established. Jesus came to bring God's Light into the darkness of the world and lives of those who have been excluded and oppressed by social, religious and political agenda's. God came so that we might be "radiant" because whole nations and peoples will have "come to" our "Light" and rulers "to the brightness of " our "dawn." (Isaiah 60: 1-6 with some paraphrasing). God has come in Christ to "have pity on the lowly and poor" and "preserve the lives of the needy. God shall redeem their lives form oppression and violence and dear to him shall their blood be in his sight." (Psalm 72).
Yet what do we see happening in our world at the hands of those who claim to follow Jesus Christ? Two individuals in Arizona have now died because they needed transplants that Arizona's Governor would not allow them to receive from the State's Medicare fund. What was Gov. Brewer's response? "Tell the Government to send more money." Our new Republican controlled US House of Representatives is going to hold a vote next Wednesday to repeal the Affordable Care Act. This repeal will ADD $230 billion to the national debt over the next 10 years. Today, the House voted to disenfrancise territories most of them with people of color.
In the first House vote of the 112th Congress, the new Republican majority voted to take away the small pittance vote given to Washington DC, Guam, the North Mariana Islands, and Puerto Rico. There's some populist policy for you right there. Is it any surprise that the people in these territories are, by a large margin, people of color?
What is happening here is Jesus Christ is being given a bad Name. Christians are interpreting the manifestation of Christ as reasons and opportunities to further oppress the very poor people that God is most fond of. It is assumed that if conservative Christians interpret the Bible as meaning that we are to discriminate against people of other religions, nationalities, sexual orientations, races, genders, gender expressions/identities then all Christians should believe and practice a like. Or that non-believers should write manifestos of hate towards those who are religious because many have abused what religion is really about. It is okay for Christianists and Arch-conservative Catholics/Anglicans to support the idea of an anti-homosexuality bill in Uganda, or take away marriage equality from LGBTQ people. It is okay to return anti-religious bullying for anti-gay bullying.
No, no, no. "This feast proclaims our faith that in Jesus, God is revealed to all people--not just to an inner circle or a chosen few, but to all people, in all places, and throughout all time." The Epiphany along with the whole message of the Christian Faith is one in which there are no scapegoats. There are no excuses or reasons to brutalize in word or action any person or group of people. There is no basis for presuming that one individual or group of individuals is somehow next in line to be excluded, killed, hurt or scandalized. The Epiphany tells us that God has revealed God's Self through Christ to all humankind. The Light of God's magnificent love and presence is lit and visible and invites any and all who are in need of the warmth of that love to come and receive God's greatest gift. The Magi led the way for all of us to go and give a gift to the Christ Child. "What can I give him" writes Christina Rossetti in the hymn In the Bleak Midwinter. "poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; if I were a wise man, I would do my part; yet, what can I give him, I give him my heart." (Hymnal 1982, #112). How can we give our hearts to Jesus, if our hearts are not open to receive and love those who are most different from ourselves? How can we give our open hearts to Jesus if they are full of prejudices for LGBTQ people, and individuals of other races, religions, health and the like? God invites us to come with our hearts as they are, and challenges us to allow the Holy Spirit to change our hearts and minds for the better. That they may serve God and humankind through compassion, reception, hospitality with the intent of being about the ministry of reconciliation.
Prayers
O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect for the Epiphany, Book of Common Prayer, page 214).
This next prayer is taken from Speaking to the Soul.
Grant us your light, O Lord,
that the darkness in our hearts
being wholly passed away,
we may come at last to the light
which is Christ.
For Christ is the morning star,
who when the night of this world has passed,
brings to us
the promised light of life,
and opens to them eternal day. Amen.
A prayer of the Venerable Bede, quoted in To Pause at the Threshold: Reflections on Living on the Border by Esther de Waal. Copyright © 2001. Used by permission of Morehouse Publishing, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. www.morehousepublishing.com
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