Epiphany 2021
Several years ago while serving in St. Thomas More parish, one of the kids in the school – Duncan by name – came to me time after time during the first part of December to tell me how excited he was about his part in the Christmas pageant. And I naturally assumed he was to be one of the main characters, -- though he had not told me what his part was.
When the time for the pageant arrived all the proud parents were there, and I could see the shepherds fidgeting in the corner of the stage meant to represent the field for the sheep. Mary and Joseph stood solemnly behind the manger. In the back, three young Wise Men waited impatiently. At the edge of the stage Duncan sat
quietly – incidentally, this was the first time I had ever seen him do so.
Then the teacher began “along time ago, Mary and Joseph had a baby and they named him Jesus.” She continued, “and when Jesus was born, a bright star appeared over the stable.”
At that cue, Duncan got up, picked up a large tinfoil star, walked behind Mary and Joseph and with great effort held the star up as high as his little body would allow.
When the teacher got to the part about the Wise Men coming to see the baby, Duncan jiggled that star up and down excitedly to show them where to go and the smile on his face shown as bright as the original star must have been.
The pageant ended, followed by the usual reception. And while I was downing the cookies the punch Duncan ran up to me, hugged me, and with great pride and satisfaction exclaimed, “I had the main part.”
“You did?” I questioned -- wondering why he thought that. “Yes,” he said, “cause I showed everybody how to find Jesus.” How true! And in today’s feast of the Epiphany we recall that story again – the story of Wise Men the Magi -- looking up into the dark sky and seeing a bright star. We see them sensing a call of destiny as they choose to follow that star wherever it might lead, and indeed it does bring them from the east to the place of their destiny – the place where Jesus, the new born king of the Jews, and his parents Mary and Joseph were living.
We’re used to that story – we’re very familiar with it. But to really appreciate the decision that they made to follow that star the
Gospel story actually gives us two sets of wise men -- to contrast and compare.
The first are the ones we have been talking about -- the Magi. But note: there was a second group of wise men mentioned -- the ones that Herod called in – the chief priests and the scribes.
For as the story says, “when King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priest and the scribes of the people he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.”
In other words, Herod had a problem and when you’ve got a problem you call in the experts. And so he gathered some wise men and said, “They talk of the birth of a Messiah; I want to know where he is to be born.”
And these wise men – like all experts -- come up with an answer. They said, the Messiah is born “in Bethlehem of Judea.”
And that’s all that we hear of these experts – these other wise men. Why? Well, like so many, and unlike the Magi, their hearts did not follow their heads. Yes, this first group of wise men remained apathetic, detached, and indifferent and wouldn’t take any risks.
And there was a risk, because, after all, suppose that they had gone on the journey and have found the Messiah. What changes would they have had to make in their lives? And so, they thought it was better to talk about it – to think about it – rather than to do
something about it.
And then we have our familiar Magi who do take the risk, and again, it was a risk. Who knew what they might learn? Who knew what they might meet? Who knew what they might find? There was a risk involved in following the star.
And that’s why the Epiphany story is very challenging. It’s not just a pretty story that conjures up in our minds oriental kings floating over the desert sands on the way to Bethlehem. The
Epiphany story is really a challenge to us – an invitation for us – to make a choice.
We are asked to choose between the two types of wise men, the priest and scribes or the Magi – those who play it safe or those who take the risk. Those who sit around and talk about it and think about it, or those who do something about it.
And so that’s why there’s a question that’s connected into this story of the wise men. And the question is. What about you and me? Where do we fit into this Epiphany story – in this Epiphany feast?
Well, the first thing that is very valuable that we can say, I think, is that we’re part of a community, a church -- a caravan so to speak. There is great comfort in that. There is great comfort in being a part of the caravan because no one on this entire earth can
successfully journey alone. We need each other’s guidance, we need each other’s assistance, and we need each other’s
encouragement.
And second, the idea that we’re on a common journey also helps us to realize that we’re in different places in the caravan. Some of us are way up in front, some of us are in the rear; some of us are willing, some of us are dragging our feet.
Some of us have a relatively clear path; some of us have to go
through a lot of camel dung to get where we are going. Some of us journey with great certainty - they’ve found Jesus. Others have doubts.
They’re still trying to struggle with fundamental questions about sickness and death and pain and poverty and all the things that say there can’t be a god if all these things exist in our world.
We have those who are veteran seekers and those who are just newcomers to this caravan. I don’t think that’s important – where we are in the caravan. I just think that it’s important that we are on the journey together -- which means we are all taking a risk.
And I think that’s the best part of the Feast of Epiphany. And that’s the best part of this caravan – this caravan at St. Philip. Because those among us who are vigorous can support those of us who are tired and just plain discouraged.
Those of us who are so certain can encourage those of us who are struggling with doubts – about faith, about God, about life, and about love.
Those of us who are hot with piety and devotion can be a sign to those of us who are tepid and lukewarm. And those of us who are young and innocent can signal hope to those who have been on this journey for a long time.
So to me, Epiphany is a feast of comfort encouragement and hope because no matter who we are or where we are -- we are all part of the caravan. We’re journeying to our own Epiphany.
And just by that fact, let me give you Epiphany’s promise, then. Wherever we are in the St. Philip caravan, whoever we are in the St. Philip caravan we will – if we stick with it - everyone of us, reach our destiny - the goal for our journey;
That is, we too will find the King of kings the Lord of lords – we too will look into the face of the Messiah – Jesus Christ our Savior and find everlasting peace, contentment and joy.
