Epiphany - Call and Challenge
Epiphany 2006 - January 8th - Ephesians 3:1-12
Lord may your light shine through me, in the words that I have to share and stir in the heart of those gathered here this morning, what purpose you have for us. Amen.
Have you ever wondered what’s the purpose for church?
It’s early in the morning, 15 minutes earlier then previous weeks, we are gathered here together - for what exactly?
What is church - and what is church for?
Last week I spoke to about Psalm 8 and I paid particular attention on the line that David repeats “Lord, our Lord” in that short phrase which is at the opening and repeated at closing of the Psalm. We have two monumental ideas.
That there is one Lord over all, which is to be worship and considered with awe and amazement.
And that Lord is a close partner, and intimate company - It is OUR Lord, which has chosen us and created us in His image setting us as stewards / or managers of His creation.
Today we commemorate Epiphany. And I would like you to think of what I have to share with you as the continuation from last week. I hope to show you what Epiphany means and what the church is and what is the purpose of the church.
So with that small task…
The feast of Epiphany finds its roots in the Eastern half of the Catholic Church, variants of which are now often called the Orthodox Church - Greek orthodox, Russian Orthodox… It was seen in the early church as more significant that Christmas. Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Christ, and became significant after the 5th century. Where Epiphany was closely related to the baptism of Jesus. With Easter, and Pentecost, Epiphany was seen as the most significant events on the Christian calendar.
The reason that Epiphany was held in such high regard can be understood by what Epiphany means. The simplest definition is that Epiphany is the revelation of God, God showing himself to the world. In the baptism of Jesus we have the beginning of his adult ministry, the spirit of God descending on Jesus like a dove and the words of God declaring that “this is my son, with whom I am well pleased”. The beginning of God sharing himself, in the flesh of Jesus.
You can see why the Eastern Catholics, to this day, still celebrate New Years day - as January 6th, why Epiphany is such an important event to be commemorated as Christians, followers of Christ.
But the Western Catholics, Roman Catholics; which Anglicans and all Protestants trace their roots, are more likely to identify Epiphany with Matthew story of the magi’s visit to the baby Jesus. This is not a great divergence from the East because in the definition of what Epiphany is: the revelation of God in Christ. We have God revealed to the Magi. Epiphany is a story of how the Gentiles, non-Jews, who had previously been outside God’s plan, now have God expanding the net to include all people - and this event should be held in holy reverence among us all.
So we have Epiphany, commemorating two different incidences, under two different traditions of the Christian community, Yet it is really commemorating one event - divine revelation - God manifested and revealed as Christ
The western feast of Epiphany has the makings of high drama. It features long journeys, by foreign people, guiding stars, ominous danger by a jealous power-hungry corrupt ruler, holy dreams, great escapes, and a threatened baby.
Exciting story - well suited for a Hollywood blockbuster.
The story is especially close to people here at St. John’s with the link to Artaban, the story of the forth and absent magi that out of compassionate ministry to fellow travelers along the way, missed the visit to the Baby Jesus.
The epiphany story of the magi, is well known and if you want to see a re-enactment you can stay or return for the pageant at 10:00 this morning. But, I would like to go the next step with you this morning. I would like to speak to you about Epiphany from the perspective of the reading from Ephesians and as promised explain something about church which you will hopefully understand how this is a continuation from last week.
If you were to ask average Joe or Jill on the street, what is the Church and what is its purpose. You might get a variety of answers:
I think that you would hear that is building - or an organization - maybe something to do with the pope and priests or pastors - or that maybe a denominational perspective. If you are really lucky you might hear that it is people that gather every Sunday to worship Jesus Christ.
In regards to what is the purpose of church, I think that the response would be even father removed from the truth. I am sure that people will tell you that the church is there to tell you what to think, or the purpose of the church is for Baptisms, weddings, funerals, Christmas and Easter. You might get the answer that it is the place where we are to learn about God, but it is unlikely that you would hear that it is an exciting place to worship the creator of the universe.
The shortest answer from a popular Protestant theologian, Calvin, and the basic model in which the Anglican Church defines church would be - that church is where the word (the gospel message of the bible) is preached and the sacraments (baptism, communion) are duly administered.
This is a true and accurate description but doesn’t really evoke the message of epiphany - divine revelation.
My definition of the church is - anywhere where two or three or more are gathered together in the name of Jesus Christ and to live out Christ’s ministry. The church is those united, confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord and live out His teachings. Half of the definition is a belief, understanding and conviction to Jesus - and the other half of the definition is the active ministry and mission following Jesus’ example.
In the Ephesians reading today, Paul spends some verses talking about how he was divinely chosen to be an apostle, speaks about his call to be the missionary to the Gentiles. Then hits us with some incredible statements.
Paul states that he is here ‘to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ, 9and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things.
News of boundless riches. I know that when I hear boundless riches, I think of winning 649 or finding Aladdin’s lamp and what that might lead to. We are to understand that Paul is promising riches beyond any limits and I don’t know about you but to me - news of that is worth listening to.
And then “to make everyone see what is the plan…from the God who created all things”
It sounds like Paul is about to answer the most-asked philosophical question… what is the meaning of life by the creator that made it…
And then Paul inserts an interesting element - He states the purpose of the church - 10so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known. Paul slips in a very significant detail right before the climax of the ‘purpose of life’. Paul states that the church, the followers of Christ, the people of God are to be a tool or a vehicle in which God will make his purpose known. One illustration that I like which deals with concept of "through the Church," is that the church is a ‘theater’ to display of God's manifold wisdom. In the days past theatre would have been understood as a place for plays of drama and comedy, while that is still true, now-a-days it is more commonly thought of a movie theatre, and this modern understanding is better suited for the illustration - where God is the light - the source of images and it is projected on the church, as the screen. We are to be a device for God’s light to shine through or to display.
So what is the message that the church is to display, the wisdom of God, and the climax of passage:
the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him.
God’s purpose of all time has been completed… ‘carried out’ in Christ Jesus, our Lord… The work is done… Humanity is restored to God, made perfect through the sacrifice of Jesus… available now for all that have faith in Him. An Epiphany, revelation of God that now goes beyond a chosen people or nation, epiphany to include the Gentiles.
Finally, that we are to trust - in faith … that we have access to God… we have returned to relationship with God… in Christ’s work - we are back to the garden. This is to be understood in boldness and confidence.
Consider that the whole passage starting with Paul’s credentials, to his call to mission to the Gentiles and narrowing down or funneling through the church - the statement of the purpose of the church - to present the epiphany of Christ, that “the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus”
So, Epiphany is both a call and a challenge
It calls out to see and understand the unique salvation through Christ to boldly access God.
But it challenges us - to be the church - to be partners with God - to be that screen in which God projects His wisdom - his eternal purpose for salvation
We need to ask ourselves what do we need to do for the world to see God projected on and through us? Amen.