Epiphany 2015

Epiphany 2015 (Matthew 2:1-12)

 “At the time of King Herod.”

The persons, places and events of the Bible are grounded in human history. King Herod ruled over Galilee under the authority of Rome. He started the project to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem.

The Magi were an order of scholars and priests in Persia. They studied math, astronomy and philosphy. They discerned the reality of the Divine in both science and religion, in the recorded observations of the prophets and the astronomers of the ancient world.

It is important to understand that the stories recorded in scripture are a record of how specific people at a specific time experienced God in the events. God reveals himself in the interactions of nature and human society.

In the Epiphany story we see several important themes emerge. These themes are part of a larger pattern of revelation that happens all around us.

First there is King Herod. He believes the Bible but rejects its message. How is this possible? For Herod, it meant he recognized the prophets as fortune tellers who saw into the future and recorded their visions. He read the scriptures from the narrow place of political power and expediency. He read to use not to receive wisdom. He read with the question: how can I use this to secure my power and to increase my power. Of course, this is not the purpose of the prophets.

The purpose of the prophets was to proclaim two words: repent and prepare. King Herod did neither. In his pride, he attempted to use the information in the prophetic books to impose his will on the people and events of his time. He had a narrow and rigid form of belief. He lacked a living and dynamic faith. And so, he missed his moment of grace by his own will to power.

It is important to know the scriptures. It is also important to understand the scriptures by grace through faith.

The Magi had very likely read the scriptures from a detached academic perspective. The Bible was one of many books they read and yes studied. They had no vested interest in the outcome of Biblical prophecy, as did Herod. Nevertheless, they also lacked the sense of personal investment the prophets asked.

What changed the Magi was the star. The star was their moment of grace. For them, as ancient astronomers, the star was not just a curious phenomena to be observed and catalogued. It had meaning. The Magi went on a journey of discovery. They had hope that the journey would bear a result. They had faith that the journey was the proper way to achieve that goal.

King Herod was spiritually frozen in a narrow rigid inflexible and uncompromising set of beliefs. He had chosen those beliefs from the place of pride and from the place of fear. Those beliefs now imprisoned his mind, heart and will in an unyielding and unteachable spiritual stagnation. He used those beliefs to defend his position and power. Sadly, his defenses also blocked his response to the grace of God revealed in scripture, nature and personal relationships.

The Magi also lived their lives from within a framework of belief. They observed the world, recorded their observations, formed theories to explain their recorded observations and occasionally even tested their theories.

Their decision to follow the star was the test – the experiment- they set for themselves to discern the greater truth. Their commitment to truth led them to Jesus who himself is the very pattern of truth.

Herod and the Magi represent two patterns. One is the pattern of stagnation. The other is the pattern of exploration. There is grace sufficient for everyone to experience the reality of God in nature, society, science, religion and interpersonal relationships.

God manifests himself to us in Jesus through many avenues. He uses the three primary channels of knowledge he designed into our species: mind, heart and will. He invites all people everywhere to taste the goodness of the Lord. Just a little taste is fine to start. Jesus is not an acquired taste- he is the bread of life.

At the time of King Herod people were lost in inherited belief systems based in fear and defended by force. God subverts fear through love in the person of the Christ Child. In the holy infant God says: do not be afraid. You have no reason to defend your- self from this child. For now, just set aside your beliefs. For now just hear the angels sing. For now, just follow the star. Now is your time. This time is your moment of grace.