Sermon on Matthew 2:1-12

Pastor Jennifer Garcia

Throughout Advent, we talked about God’s dreams and visions for the world as told through the prophets, including John the Baptist. Then, we talked about Jesus being God’s dream come true at Christmas and God’s ultimate dream of Beloved Community that we get to be a part of and that will be complete one day.

Dreams are a big part of the opening of the Gospel of Matthew. Joseph dreamed of a divine messenger encouraging him to marry Mary and be Jesus’ earthly father.

Then, in our Gospel reading today, the wise ones had a dream warning them not to talk to Herod anymore.

They were really close to ruining everything.

I don’t know if they were the sort of people who are book smart but a little naïve about the way the world works, or if there was a cultural difference that made them assume the best of Herod, or maybe they just hadn’t heard of Herod’s reputation.

But they nearly got Jesus killed.

Fortunately, though, God was at work in the story.

God spoke through the cosmos to wise ones so far away from Bethlehem, sending a star to lead them to where God knew baby Jesus would be.

And then, when the wise ones spilled the beans to bloodthirsty King Herod, God protected the baby by speaking to them in a dream, warning them to make themselves scarce on the way home from their pilgrimage.

After our reading, God came to Joseph in a dream again, instructing him to flee with his family to Egypt to escape Herod’s wrath. And when Herod died at some point later, God told Joseph it was okay to go home.

God guided Jesus’ story and protected him so he could fulfill God’s mission in the world.

It’s a powerful story, but it can feel like God only guided people during biblical times. Generally, we regard people who say they’ve had visions or that God came to them in a dream with suspicion or write them off as ridiculous.

We know too much about astronomy to follow a star. We’re too rational to make decisions based on dreams. And certainly, there are times when seeking out mental healthcare is the best choice when encountering something seemingly supernatural.

But maybe we ignore anything we can’t explain, we’re missing out on ways God can speak to us.

As Hamlet put it, “There are more things in heaven and earth…than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”

Maybe it feels like God only guided people in the Bible and never us because we never pay attention.

God is still active in our world today. God is still speaking.

What might God say if we opened our minds and suspended our disbelief for just a moment?

Jesus talked about having faith like a child. We do need to be careful of people who want to take advantage of us, but what if we let ourselves imagine more and be willing to experience wonder?

What do we have to lose? And more importantly, what might we gain if we’re more attentive to God’s voice in our lives?

What if we too looked to the heavens, the cosmos created by God’s imagination, and really paid attention?

I don’t have the training to be able to pick out a star in the sky and know what it means like the wise ones did. But there’s a tradition in a lot of congregations to pick “star words” on the closest Sunday to Epiphany, and I thought it would be fun and hopefully meaningful to join in this year.

In a few minutes, you’ll get the opportunity to pick a slip of paper with a word on it. The idea is not to look at it before picking it and not to exchange it for a different one if you don’t like what you get.

The idea is to be open to how God might be speaking to you through your star word throughout this year.

Now, you can take what you want out of this. You can enter into this activity to the level of your comfort. It can simply be a fun activity for today, like opening a fortune cookie from your takeout order. That’s perfectly fine.

But if you’re open to it, I encourage you to put your star word somewhere prominent—on a mirror, your refrigerator, or in your car—so that you can see it as you go about your daily life.

When you see it, pause and ask God where your word might be showing up in your life or how you might seek out more of it that day.

Like the star the wise ones followed, perhaps your star word can guide you. Maybe it can help you be open to what God has in mind for you this year.

And if you sit in prayer and find yourself drawn to a different word, that’s okay too. I’ve already spent some time picking a word and journaling about it this past week, but I’m curious to see how my star word might enrich my understanding of my word for 2026. Maybe this star word willpoint you to a different path that God is leading you toward.

The point is to open yourself to God’s voice in your life, and God speaks in many different ways: a star, a dream, a cloud, a still small voice. Listen for what God has to say to you today.

As we prepare to receive our star words, let us pray:

Gracious God, you guided the wise ones with a star and a dream. Please help us be open to your voice in our lives however you choose to make it known. Let us be open to the gifts you have for us and make us receptive to your call. Guide our path in 2026 and beyond. Amen.

Take a word. Don’t exchange. Sit with it, close your eyes, and pray about it. Listen to the Holy Spirit.

The Lord be with you:

Emmanuel, God with Us, some of our star words may be speaking to us already, some may feel frustrating, and some may seem irrelevant. Please guide us, regardless, and help us imagine the world as you see it and follow where you are leading us. Give us wisdom, understanding, and discernment as we seek to walk in your ways this year and always. Amen.

If you notice someone isn’t here today and would like a word, let me know—I’d be happy to get them one. We’ll be sending them to our at-home members too.

May your star word bring you insight and may God’s voice, however it comes to you, guide your path this year and always.