The Light Shines Through - Epiphany

The New Revised Standard Version The Visit of the Wise Men

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for from you shall come a ruler

who is to shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” 9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

Introduction

What is Epiphany?

Celebration of the Nativity

Christ’s being revealed to the world.

Framing Epiphany

Framing Epiphany

Feast of the Wise Men

Global Celebration that invites all humanity to the Messiah’s story.

On this, the 12th day of Christmas, we are offered a reminder that the story of Jesus’ birth and childhood, while they iconically fit on the landscape of the Judean countryside, extend to all the ends of the earth. Just because Jesus was born in Bethlehem and brought up in Nazareth, his influence and the scope of his ministry and purpose is global.

Feast of the Wise MenGlobal Celebration that invites all humanity to the Messiah’s story.

The visit of the Magi, the wisdom teachers from the East, is crucial in expanding this story to a much wider view. These visitors are (likely) not Jews. They aren’t from the same geographic centers where the Hebrew story resides. In fact, it’s likely these visitors were Zoroastrian mystics — Zoroastrianism is a middle eastern religion that has mostly faded in modern days, but served as a precursor to Islam in Persia and had a rich mystical and wisdom tradition, focusing on the study of the stars. These travelers are outsiders, outside of the Jewish story, outside of who we’d expect to be at the beginning of Jesus’ narrative — and this is so important in what they foreshadow for us later. These are representatives of the nations, the wide world which eventually we come to know that God’s kingdom extends to — to the ends of the earth.

Perhaps as you’ve heard this story told in the past, there has been focus placed on the gifts they bring, which some traditions tell us represent three visitors: gold, frankincense, and myrhh.

Stars — The Whole world can see the stars

The Whole world can see the stars

Stars beneath us

The Whole world can see the stars

Topics of conversation

Stars beneath usTopics of conversationSpace is cool!

Space is cool!

Darkness — We see Darkness too

We see Darkness too

Herod is the archetype for the darkness

Herod is the archetype for the darknessChallenges of darkness and evil, which cloud our site

Challenges of darkness and evil, which cloud our site

Finding the light

Finding the light

Dark, dark mornings these days

Even when the darkness is very present, we can find a light to follow

Even when the darkness is very present, we can find a light to followListening, paying attention, setting intentions

Listening, paying attention, setting intentions

Three Turns on this Text

Light to the Nations

Path of Light in the Darkness

Inner Light vs. Power of Darkness

The Light Shines Through

The Light Shines Through

What direction is the Light leading you?

What direction is the Light leading you?Will you follow? Will you be distracted by the Darkness? Clouded?

Will you follow?

Will you be distracted by the Darkness? Clouded?

Take away: Identify the light and find ways to cultivate it. Perhaps it comes from a source you had not expected, a Gentile, Zoroastrian wisdom teacher.