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Thursday, January 9, 2014

God’s Generous Gift to Us (Visitation of the Magi, Matthew 2:1-12)

Art work by Barbara Billey, ARCWP Candidate



With God in the beginning Jesus bursts forth into the universe, human and God with us now. This cataclysmic cosmic event changes the world forever.

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany. “Epiphany,” a Greek noun meaning “manifestation,” describes an experience of sudden, striking realization, an “ah ha” moment. The birth of Jesus is this kind of moment. God’s infinite love and wisdom break into human history through an innocent child.

The people of Israel have experienced centuries of desolation and darkness. The long awaited Messiah will liberate them from oppression and shepherd them as king. A descendant of King David, he will be born in Bethlehem where David was born and anointed king. According to the prophet Isaiah, “This One shall be called Wonderful Counselor, the Strength of God, Eternal Protector and Champion of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Imagine hearts spilling over with hope.

The coming of Jesus fulfills these prophecies, but not in the way people expect. For the first time in history God is revealed to nations beyond Israel. Everyone is included in God’s universal embrace. What astonishing generosity!

Matthew tells of the magi who come to Jerusalem seeking the Messiah. Portrayed as wise men from the East, possibly astrologers or dream interpreters of the priestly cast, they represent neighboring pagan religions and have seen “His star at its rising.”
Once in Bethlehem, the magi see the star fixed over the location of the infant Jesus and are overwhelmed with joy. They pay homage to him giving fine gifts suitable for a king. This is a birth of brilliance, yet darkness hovers as the sky before a storm.

Earlier in the Gospel we hear King Herod’s reaction to the birth of Jesus. He is deeply troubled. Herod wants none of this Messiah who threatens his kingship and the seat of every throne after him. The fear of losing power drives Herod to dangerous extremes.

Like many of us in a crisis, Herod relies on his mind to organize the chaos, quickly seeking information from the high priests and scholars, while crafting a false scheme to pay homage. Herod insists the magi come back with details. He’s determined to find Jesus, but the magi don’t deliver. They take a different route out of Bethlehem trusting information from another source: wisdom given in a dream. In Hebrew scripture, God often speaks to people through dreams. 

We hear in Matthew’s next gospel that Herod is furious about being outwitted by the magi and orders the merciless murder of innocent babies in Bethlehem. Herod destroys life; the magi preserve it. Jesus is safe because the magi followed wisdom given by God.

After leaving Bethlehem, the magi announce the good news of the Messiah to all nations. God as Divine Presence has evolved because of Jesus and the magi are intimately connected to this evolution.  Jesus as Wisdom unifies all life – humans, creatures of the natural world, the entire cosmos – within the one loving heart of God. He is God’s generous gift infusing the universe with love.
How will the Christ of Christmas live in us this New Year? To what or to whom will we pay homage? One in seven children in Canada live in poverty, abuses of power and indifference are rampant, and the earth is in peril due to our choices. Some of us are prone to worry, dissatisfaction, despair, and worse yet, hatred and violence. Electronic devices link us to one another, but many have never felt more alone.

Love is the gift we bring to the crib of the world. We are utterly dependent on one another to survive and to thrive. Wisdom Jesus goes before us as light in our darkness. As modern magi and Christ bearers, our gifts of inclusive care for all living beings and our natural world continues the evolution of God. We are star and signpost of God with us now. 

Herod will always be in our midst. However, we can temper the tyrant within by being mindful of our fears and associated thoughts that swallow up light, especially when life isn’t turning out as imagined. The indwelling Jesus helps us refrain from words or actions that do harm to self and others. Private prayer and communal Eucharist align us with God’s wisdom, rather than with our minds and wills. One with the Cosmic Christ, even in the midst of hardship we discover joy as did the magi upon first seeing His star.

The prophet Isaiah says, “For the people that walk in darkness have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9:2). We are the light of Christ casting out darkness through our gifts of love, acceptance and compassion. We are the embodiment of God’s astonishing generosity. Now is our moment. We are the people. How will God’s love evolve through us?

Homily by Barbara Billey, January 6, 2014

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