Sunday January 6th
2019 The Epiphany (Cycle C)
Where Were They Going
Without Even Knowing the Way?
The tie in between today’s readings:
Jesus Breaks Down the Walls
One of the most intriguing parts of the
Christmas story is the visit of the Magi (Matt2:1-12). You can understand an
impoverished family arriving in a crowded town and having to use a stable as an
emergency Labor and Delivery Unit because there was no other place to go.
Shepherds and angels are a nice touch too, but the thought of kings coming from
the east with gold, frankincense, and myrrh is just way out there. The Bible
isn’t much help on the topic either. We don’t even know how many kings there
actually were. They just arrive out of the blue at Herod’s palace asking for
directions. From there, they are directed to a small village with a billboard
that reads: “Welcome to Bethlehem, Future Birthplace of the Messiah!” Their
guiding star like a MapQuest ®marker points out the house where the Holy Family
is staying. They knock and greet a stunned Mary and Joseph with a surprise that
could only be compared to winning the Publisher’s Clearing House Sweepstakes®.
They worship the toddler Jesus and present their gifts. Shortly thereafter, everyone
bolts out of town just in time to escape the oncoming carnage. What can we say
about a bunch of rich guys slepping across the desert on the first recorded
Star Trek®? Well, one observation that’s certain: something big was happening
and they wanted to be a part of it.
Whether they realized it or not, they were
fulfilling the prophesies found in today’s readings: Isaiah 60 and Psalm 72.
The Magi are the first in a long procession of Gentiles that will come to
worship the King of the Jews, soon to become the King of the world (Philippians
12:10, Romans 14:11). Up until this point, God’s promises to Abraham were
allotted to the Jews; God wanted Israel to be a shining beacon on the hill
drawing the nations to Jehovah. It
didn’t work out that way. The Jewish people lost their way. Instead of reaching
out to the world, they made an exclusive club out of their Abrahamic pedigree.
They had the inside track to the All Mighty. Everyone else was on the outside
looking in. They were the uncircumcised, alienated from the commonwealth of
Israel, strangers to the promise of the covenant that God made with their
forefathers, and without hope in this world. Now the Messiah has arrived and
the wall of separation between Jew and Gentile is coming down. Jesus’ worldwide message and mission trumps
all other earthly considerations. When everyone is a sinner in need of
salvation and it is a terrifying thing to be morally guilty before a holy
judge, the foot of the cross becomes level ground. All are in need. All who
believe receive forgiveness. All live for something bigger than themselves: the
Kingdom of God. Everyone is unified in
Christ who is all in all.
In our last reading, in Ephesians 3, the
Apostle Paul discloses the opened mystery hinted at throughout the Old
Testament, namely that the Gentiles are fellow heirs with the Jews in the
promises of God to Abraham. By His cross
and resurrection, Jesus established the “Jew at heart” scenario. All believers
in Christ are true Jews and children of Abraham regardless of background and
will inherit the earth to live with Jehovah forever in the New Jerusalem. I
think the Magi in some sense saw this and considered it an honor to recognize
His Majesty. How about you? Have you
come to saving faith in the sacrifice of Jesus? Have you been born again into God’s family
where there is no pride or prejudice of race, sex, or social class? If not, it’s
time for you to go on a trek of your own to find the King of Kings and
salvation in Jesus. Wise men still seek Him.
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