First Lutheran Church
January 10, 2020
The Epiphany of Christ
Isaiah 60:1-3
Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
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.
‘Arise and Shine”
Pastor Greg Ronning
This past Wednesday the Christian Church celebrated “The Epiphany of Christ.” The feast of the Epiphany concludes the season of Christmas. The appointed Old Testament lesson for the day reminds us that on this day, light has finally dawned into the darkness of our world. Our Gospel tells us the story of the Magi, “wise men from the East,” who have been following a star in the heavens. This star will lead them to the Christ child, to whom they will bow down and pay homage, offering him “gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
This past Wednesday we watched in horror as our nation’s capitol was stormed by a mob. We were stunned once again by violence in our streets, even violence in the halls of government. Meanwhile in Los Angeles people suffering from COVID found themselves stuck in parked ambulances, unable to get into the hospital, unable to get the health care they desperately need to live. This past Wednesday, on the day of the Epiphany, we found ourselves seemingly being plunged into a deeper darkness.
Today we gather to cling to the simple promise, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.” Today we are reminded that a single candle cannot be snuffed out by even the darkest of rooms. Today we are called to be light, for a thousand candles can be lit from just one light, the light that is ours in Christ Jesus, that light we have been given to share. As we begin the season of Epiphany, a season of revelation, insight, and holy imagination, a season of holy light. As we begin the season of Epiphany, we are invited to make the same journey that the Magi made in days long ago, we are invited to step out into the present darkness, look up into the heavens, gaze upon the stars, and seek out the heavenly light that is Christ.
Ancient people believed that the stars appeared as the result of the work of the angels. They believed that the world was covered by a great dome, and that heaven was on the other side. The day would begin when angels would pull the sun on a chariot across the sky. And then, as that chariot would reach the other side and disappear, the angels would begin to open small portals in the dome that would allow small pieces of the light of heaven to shine down upon the earth during the darkness. Each evening as the sky grew darker, the stars would appear as the angels opened up the portals to heaven. The stars were seen as a reminder that they were not alone, even in the darkness. Ancient people would lift up their eyes and look up, and in the brilliant light of the stars they found peace, hope, and love.
Not too many people believe that the stars are portals to heaven opened up by angels anymore. Not too many people believe that the sun is carried by angels across the sky in the chariot. Rockets have blasted off into the sky and people no longer believe that the earth is covered by a great dome and that heaven is just on the other side. The earth is round and surrounded by a great and vast space. We’re not sure where heaven is, or what heaven is, and sometimes people are not sure if it even exists. But people still believe in the darkness that falls every night. People still believe in the darkness that makes it hard for us to see, the darkness that causes confusion, the darkness that causes us to make bad decisions, the darkness that causes us to stumble and fall in the night. Sometimes we look up at the stars and it seems that the darkness, some great space hole, an anti star, is swallowing everything up. We don’t believe that the angels run around at night and open up portals to heaven so that light can shine down on us, but we wish that it were true.
So, what happened to the angels? I’m sorry to say that I don’t have a well-developed doctrine in regard to angels. The only thing I know for sure is that the Hebrew word for angel means “messenger.” And I do believe that God has messages for us - and that they are being delivered. And that they come in many ways, in ordinary ways and in mysterious heavenly ways. The scriptures say that sometimes we entertain angels unaware, and that just may be true. And it just might be true that sometimes “we” are angels unaware, bringing a message of love into the world.
Regardless of how our world view has changed, the light of heaven still shines brightly - bringing us peace, hope, joy and love. It shines down in the stars at night, the warmth of candles in the dark, the light at the end of a tunnel, and perhaps most importantly in the caring eyes of you and me, and all the “angels unaware” about us. As people of faith the light shines upon each of us, and that same light shines out from within each of us.
“Arise, shine for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” On the day of Epiphany, the light of Christ not only reminds us that we are loved, but that we are called to rise up and follow the light! We are invited on our own journey, just like the Magi we are compelled to follow that star that leads to Christ, that we too might kneel before him, and share our gifts.
The Magi do not find Christ in Jerusalem, in the temple or the palace, but rather, miles away from the center of power in the humble home of Mary and Joseph. Where might the star of Epiphany take you on your journey? What unexpected destination awaits you? And when you finally arrive, what gifts will you be compelled to share?
Chasing after stars is risky business. Putting faith into action is risky business. My favorite part of the story of the Magi is the way it ends. The last sentence of today’s gospel tells us, “And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.” They go home a different way! They do not return to Herod, they do not continue in old ways, they are no longer bound by fear, for they have been transformed. Those who seek the star that leads to Jesus are changed forever, the old things pass away and all things become new.
After the sun sets tonight, after the angels have carried the sun across the dome and into its resting place, I invite you to step outside and into the darkness. And then look up and watch as the angels open up the portals of heaven. As that light travels through all the darkness and touches down upon you; believe that you are not alone in the universe, let peace settle in your soul, and know that you are loved. And in that love, set free from fear, let the stars begin to lead you on that journey of faith, to that place where Christ has called you to shine bright. “Arise, shine for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.” Amen.