We Follow His Light

Matthew 2:1-12

Good morning! Today we are celebrating the Feast of the Epiphany, which means – we are back in Matthew’s Gospel, because Matthew is the only Gospel writer who gives us an account of the arrival of the men who are often referred to as The Three Kings. You’ll recall from Matthew’s Nativity story, that his proof that Jesus is the Messiah rests on his establishing that Jesus is definitely descended from King David, and so in today’s story of the Magi who come seeking a newborn king, Matthew continues his proofs of Jesus’ claim to the throne.

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?

In our Nativity stories, Matthew’s desire to prove Jesus’ kingship, and Luke’s presentation of Him as the Savior of the poor and lowly, we’ve encountered differences that over the centuries have been blended into one Christmas tale. Similarly, over the centuries we’ve had time to considerably muddle the story of the Magi. In our minds they fit right into Christmas – arriving soon after the baby’s birth, following a bright star that shines over the stable “where He lay”. But scholars assure us that that’s not really how it happened.

Who were the Wise Men?  We call them the Magi, and also The Three Kings, but who were they? First of all, the three strangers in our Gospel story, the men who travelled far to seek an audience with King Herod, were not kings. Often, the English translations of the Bible use the word “astrologers” for “magi.” In Greek, which is the original language in which the Gospel was written, the word magos (magoi, plural) has four meanings: (1) a member of the priestly class of ancient Persia, where astrology and astronomy were prominent in Biblical times; (2) one who had occult knowledge and power, and was adept at dream interpretation, astrology, fortune-telling, divination and spiritual mediation; (3) a magician; or (4) a charlatan, who preyed upon people using the before-mentioned practices.

From these possible definitions and the description provided in the Gospel, the Magi were probably Persian priest-astrologers, respected scientists of their day, who could interpret the stars, the planets, and significant occurrences in the heavens.

And what about the star?  Surely there was a bright shining star over the manger. Scholars and astronomers have proposed several natural explanations for the Star, including planetary conjunctions, comets, supernovae, and lunar occultations that may have occurred around the time of Christ’s birth.

We don’t actually know what it was, and, in truth, it isn’t really of great importance, because whatever it was, we know it did really exist, and that and that the Magi saw it. What else could compel not just one person but three to make such a dangerous journey so far from home? The answer must be that they saw, in the sky, something they clearly believed to be an announcement that a king was to be born.

Did that “star” hover over a stable in Bethlehem? Matthew tells us: it stopped over the place where the child was. In fact, in our translation of the Gospel which we read today, the Magi enter the house, [where] they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage.

Some Bible scholars suggest that the Magi, arriving at the home of the Holy Family, rather than the stable, may have made their visit up to a year and a half after Jesus’ birth. And, alas, no star is included in this scenario. If the Magi travelled from the East – which Psalm 72 tells us is Tarshish, some 3,000 miles from Jerusalem, or, as other scholars suggest, Babylon, over 550 miles away, no wonder they didn’t arrive shortly after the baby was born.

Finally, in our story, there are the gifts. It would definitely appear that the Magi were expecting to find a king. You don’t bring gold, frankincense, and myrrh to a carpenter’s son. In the seventh century, St. Bede, identifying the Magi by name, explained the gifts. I quote, “The magi were the ones who gave gifts to the Lord. The first is said to have been Melchior, an old man with white hair and a long beard… who offered gold to the Lord, as to a king. The second, Caspar by name, young and beardless and ruddy complexioned… honored Him as God, by his gift of incense, an oblation worthy of divinity. The third, black-skinned and heavily bearded, named Balthasar … by his gift of myrrh, testified to the Son of Man who was to die.”  Or to put it simply, as St. Irenaeus has in his interpretation for the gifts - gold, frankincense and myrrh: King, God, and Suffering Redeemer, as well as virtue, prayer, and suffering.

Why has Matthew used this story in his proof of Jesus’ kingship? Matthew wanted to establish connections to the past, to prophesy and Biblical stories that his listeners would recognize. The visit of the Magi fulfills the prophecies of what we call the Old Testament: Balaam prophesied about the coming Messiah marked by a star: “I see him, though not now; I behold him, though not near: A star shall advance from Jacob and a staff shall rise from Israel…” (Ah!  There’s the tradition of the star).

Our Psalm today speaks of how the Gentiles will come to worship the Messiah: “The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts, the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute. And All kings shall pay Him homage, all nations shall serve Him”. (Now we see how the Magi have been identified as kings.) In our lesson from Isaiah, we hear that “Caravans of camels shall cover you, dromedaries from Midian and Ephah; all from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praises of the Lord” And there, except for the myrrh, you have the gifts.

While it may be disappointing to realize that the journey and arrival of the Magi probably did not go as everything from paintings to hymns have led us to believe, it is still a marvelous and joyous day, and around the world, there are many traditions linked to the Feast of the Epiphany.

In Italy, La Befana is a legendary lady who, having refused an invitation to travel with the Magi to find the Christ Child, has spent her life looking for Him, and leaving a gift at every home where she finds a child. She brings sweets and presents to children not on Christmas, but on Epiphany. Children in many parts of Latin America, the Philippines, Portugal, and Spain also receive their presents on “Three Kings Day.”

Meanwhile, in Ireland, Roman Catholics celebrate “Women’s Christmas” - where women rest from housework and cleaning and celebrate together with a special meal. Epiphany in Poland is marked by taking chalk - along with gold, incense, and amber - to be blessed at Mass.

In the United States, there is a define emphasis on home and family, so on Epiphany, on top of every door in the house, many families will inscribe the first part of the year, the number 20, followed by the letters, “C+M+B+” and then the numbers of the year, this year being, of course, 26. The “plus” signs are the Sign of the Cross, while the letters stand for the names traditionally given to The Wise Men — Casper, Melchior, and Balthazar — as well as for the Latin phrase “Christus mansionem benedicat,” or “Christ, bless this house.”

In nearly every part of the world, Roman Catholics celebrate Epiphany with a King Cake – yes, the one we think of in connection with Mardi Gras, a sweet cake that sometimes contains an object like a figurine, or a lone nut. In some locations, the lucky recipient of this prize either gets special treatment for the day, or must hold a party at the close of the Epiphany season.

In some way, all these celebrations point to the family-centered nature of the feast day and of its original connection to the Feast of the Holy Family, which our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters celebrated last Sunday. The traditions also point to what is known — and what is still mysterious — about the Magi, who were the first Gentiles to encounter Christ.

However each of us chooses, to celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany, we share something in common with the Magi.  We are traveling toward something greater than ourselves. We travel the road laid out before us by our Lord, the road that takes us finally to The Gate, and to God’s heavenly Kingdom. On our way there, like Bafana, we can offer to our family, friends, neighbors, and every stranger God puts in our path, gifts of kindness, peace, joy, and love, which can take many forms – but are all offered from our generous and loving hearts.

Because we belong to Jesus, we follow His light, a light which may take us far from the familiar, far from the ways of this world, and place us on the way that brings us to Him. The temptation is to live a worldly life, following the path of pleasure and self-seeking - but in knowing Jesus, like the Magi, we are called to change course, going home another way.

And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

Let us pray:

O God of stars and journeys, You lead us day by day to the joy of your Light. Move us by the power of Your Holy Spirit to open our gifts for others, and so receive in our hearts the holy Child of Bethlehem. Let Your light shine out again and again through us, that all may come to know Your Light and rejoice in Your coming. All this we ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.