Epiphany Gospel
Theme: Government mistreats gift-givers
Let us pray.
Most holy, Lord God, we gather this day to observe the time when the magi, gentiles, traveled long to pay homage to your son; may we emulate their devotion to one who was from a different country and a different people, your son, Jesus Christ, through whom we pray. Amen.
Most of us think that good ol’ St. Nick, Santa Claus, rests after Christmas Day – and he probably does. But Santa’s helpers don’t always take a break. Such was the case of Chip Cafiero of Brooklyn. Chip is a 60 year old retired school teacher. I know, it’s hard to call someone who is 60 years old, Chip.
Chip donned his Santa outfit to pass out toys and candy canes on Black Friday, December 26th. He was in a horse drawn carriage. He also had a SUV escort to double park next to the carriage to protect the horse and the carriage from traffic, which can get rather hectic on Black Friday.
While he was delivering gifts to children, a New York City traffic enforcement officer gave him a ticket. I think I know of one of New York City’s finest who is going to be on Santa’s naughty list this coming Christmas. Chip yelled out, “Ho! Ho! Ho!” to get the traffic agent's attention because the SUV wasn’t blocking traffic.
Chip said, “This grinch just went ahead and fined me.” Chip says he will fight the $115 ticket. Local politician Martin Golden calls the parking ticket “ridiculous.” Police won't comment on it.
There is a long tradition of giving gifts to celebrate Jesus’ birth. We can thank the magi for beginning this tradition. But even then, government got involved with that first gift giving event. The wise men fled the government. Chip Cafiero yelled, “Ho! Ho! Ho!” The wise men ignored the government. Chip Cafiero may yet get out of a fine.
Herod was ruthless to those who, he felt, threatened his rule. We are told that Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem when Herod was king of Judea. Somewhere around this time, some magi or astrologers and dream interpreters came from Persia arriving in Jerusalem.
They asked, “Where is the child King of the Jews?” They came to worship a Jewish king, which is in itself an odd occurrence. Why would foreigners travel a long distance to worship a king? (Not that kings didn’t encourage their worship. There was no difference in ancient times between church and state.)
The magi’s presence tells us that Jesus is a king worthy of worship for all people and not just the Jews. The magi saw his star in the east, meaning that they were in the east when they saw the star. The direction of the star is not stated. The people of Jerusalem seem to be unaware of the star.
Everyone who heard the words of the magi were troubled, including King Herod. Herod had a great deal of power, but he always wanted more – a disability among many people who wield power. Herod was ruthless to anyone who threatened his throne, real or imagined. Some scholars looking for a king would set Jerusalem on red alert. People will soon die.
When Herod first heard that these visitors had arrived, he probably assumed that they were in Jerusalem to see the great King Herod. When he found out they were looking for another king, Herod’s humiliation must have sparked a boiling rage. This prompted Herod to inquire of his experts where the messiah was to be born.
Herod already made the assumption that an anonymous king, recently born, must be the messiah. Herod rules by the grace of the Roman emperor. He is not an ethnic Jew. He is an Edomite who tenuously sits on the throne. The experts quote the prophets Samuel and Micah by putting their words together that the messiah will be born in Bethlehem. From Bethlehem will come a leader to shepherd his people Israel. So, Herod called for a quick and private meeting with the magi to learn more about this star the magi had charted.
Herod directed them to Bethlehem and asked to have the child’s location told to him so that he, too, may worship the child. The magi who were lost and asking directions in Jerusalem (perhaps they were wise women because what man is going to ask for directions) now suddenly find their way via the star to the exact location of the child. They knew that they were in the right place at the right time, which is always a good feeling to have.
The ancients knew that when a star of a king reaches its zenith, it signals the beginning of that king’s reign. The magi are not visiting a child who will be king, but a king who has begun to rule. They went into the house finding the child and Mary. They didn’t double park. No sign of Joseph. Maybe he was at work.
The magi worshipped Jesus. Then they dropped off the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh that they brought with them. Gold is a gift for kings. Frankincense is burned by priests in religious acts. Myrrh can be used as incense, but it is also used in ointment form in the preparation of bodies for burial. The cross looms in the background of even the birth stories.
The magi were warned in a dream not to return to Herod and quietly slipped out of town. The only people to acknowledge the beginning of Jesus’ rule are aliens. In this birth, the nations are being drawn to the Light of God.
The magi had no assurance of how the story would end. What they saw was an economically disadvantaged child being held by a very young mother. This was not a scene that would inspire future success. Yet the magi had the faith to experience unbridled joy. What they saw was a great deal of hope.
We are heirs of the magi. We foreigners are drawn to the light of Christ. We bask in his glory. The glory of salvation offered to all people so long ago in a small town, far, far away.
We now pray: Gracious God and giver of all good gifts, we thank you for the gift of your son; we thank you for the example of the magi; may we be ever reminded to display our gratitude to you and to our neighbors near and far, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
[The New York Daily News contributed to this sermon.]
Text: Matthew 2:1-12 (NRSV)
2 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise mena 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,b 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 Messiahc 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 shepherdd my people Israel.’ ”
7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise mene 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,f until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped,g 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.
[1]
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a Or astrologers; Gk magi
b Or in the East
c Or the Christ
d Or rule
e Or astrologers; Gk magi
f Or in the East
g Gk saw the star
[1] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. 1989. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.