Wowza!

Matthew 2:1-12

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: ‘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.’” 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.

Today we’re celebrating Epiphany.  An epiphany is the sudden revealing of the essential nature or meaning of something.  The PARTICULAR Epiphany that we celebrate today is the one that the Wise Guys had when they first saw Jesus.  Even though they had “observed his star at it’s rising” THAT wasn’t their Epiphany.  That wasn’t the moment where they made the connection and really “grasped” the essential nature of Jesus.  Even after they had arrived at Herod’s and were given the new clue that Bethlehem somehow figured into their mystery… even at that point… that STILL wasn’t their Epiphany.  

They had their Epiphany right before they suddenly did something very different.  Right after they saw Jesus THEY WENT HOME BY ANOTHER WAY.  Before this they had been very good rule-followers.  They had checked in with the local king.  They had shared all their research getting their astronomical studies peer reviewed by the local scholars.  They had received all the correct passport stamps and visa documents.  Their camels had been x-rayed for Eastern fruits not allowed in the country.  They had received all the needed sign offs from the religious authorities and had followed all the local customs.  The story shows they were very good rule-followers… until suddenly… they weren’t!  Suddenly they had changed! 

Herod told them back at the castle to “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.”  Which, on the front side of their Epiphany, seems like something they most certainly would have done!  They had followed all the rules before, after all.  But NOW, on this side of their Epiphany they had been changed!  Changed to such a degree that it led these wise, rule followers from the East to throw out everything they had planned and promised to Herod before… and go home by another Way.  

You and I may not be so wise that we catch every new star at it’s rising.  Heck, I couldn't even catch Jupiter and Saturn converging last week with astronomers telling me exactly when and where to look!  But even though we aren’t astronomers discovering a new star… we are, you and I… on our own journey of discovery… this journey we call life.  And frankly, after this past year, a Divine Epiphany telling us which way to go from here would be awesome!  

We have just crossed the miserable desert of 2020.  We've taken a couple steps into 2021.  We HOPE we're headed toward an end to this pandemic.  We HOPE this year will have less desert.  So what road will we take from here?  What Way will we take home? I have to say... an Epiphany right about now would be VERY helpful!  

Now, keep in mind that some today, like Herod back then, will have no interest in walking a New Way, Divine Epiphany or not.  No desire for any new understandings of any natures, essential or not.  They will look away from any Epiphany... dismiss any dream.  That's what Herod did then and there are Herods all around us still today... people obsessed only with themselves, their own power, desperate and willing to do anything to keep it, and all the while completely unconcerned about those around them.   

But we're not called to follow Herod.  Our call is to be Wise Ones!  Ones who notice the countless Epiphanies God offers up all around us every day.  The Ones who listen to God’s dreams for us and all of creation!  We are the Wise Ones who hear and unravel the truth and lean into the Way God is calling us to walk through life.  And so our call, like those Wise Guys way back then, is to not just to gather information, but to also get out there and walk that new Way home.  But which way is that?  This is where a Divine Epiphany would help, right?  Maybe a dream, not about us getting a church gorilla, but a HELPFUL dream!  A dream to show us which WAY to walk through this year to come.  A dream to take us home!

And here is the Good News... you and I... we don't actually need a NEW Epiphany to get that.  Jesus is our Epiphany.  Jesus, with his life, death and resurrection has revealed to each of us our essential natures... we are Children of God!  We also don't need a new dream to guide us.  Jesus is our guide and walks ahead of us along the Jesus Way, showing us with each step he takes how to care for the least, last and lost... how to love our neighbor by giving of ourselves.  

Following in Jesus' footsteps... THAT'S the other road home we are called to walk!  It's not Herod's way.  It’s the Jesus Way and the truth is, walking THAT way, no matter what this coming year might bring, will lead us toward an abundant life.  May we, together be Wise Ones in this year to come.  May we not be caught up in the drama of the Herods of our world and may we instead, join together and step by step, walk the Jesus Way through this year to come.  Amen.