Feast of the Epiphany

Life-giving God, take our minds and think through them,

take our hands and work through them,

take our hearts and set them on fire with love

for you, for all people and for our earth.  Amen.

On my bedroom wall hangs a large black-and-white photograph of a tableau of five year olds – my kindergarten class - dressed in appropriate costume – our expressions serious – angels and shepherds and wise men with hands clasped in prayer – all of us focused on the baby Jesus in the crib in front of Mary.  I am an angel!

That photograph triggers another memory – now in Grade 5 – when I am chosen to be the first king in the Junior School Christmas pageant.  This time in the large upper school hall so that parents can come and experience our telling of the nativity story.  The practices – the trying on of costumes – the excitement – but at the same time the feeling that all this is really important – that the story we are acting out means something far beyond a long-ago happening – something that is changing our lives then and in the future.

The third memory is music.  First thing every morning from kindergarten on, we used to gather to sing and read scripture and pray.  And I realize, looking back, that the process of learning was very gradual – we didn’t under-stand all the stories we were hearing – we didn’t under-stand all the words of the hymns – but those 14 years gave me a daily experience of prayer – of scripture –of hymns – and formed a solid foundation on which to gradually grow into an adult faith.

So the hymn “We three kings” has been in my repertoire for a long time!  But finding the meaning of the story is a never-ending process, because as we grow older and experience life,our understanding of this story also changes.

Who were these magi? According to scripture, there were not necessarily three, they were not kings, and they were not from the Orient.  Matthew, writing his gospel some 50 years after Jesus’ death, envisioned an undisclosed number of magi bearing three gifts – gold – a symbol of Jesus’ king-ship, frankincense – a symbol of Jesus’ divinity, and myrrh – a symbol foreshadowingJesus’ suffering and death. The magi were pagan priest-sages, wealthy scholars, mystics,specialists in medicine, religions, astronomy, astrology, and magic – searching into the gods of the heavens.  They were eastern intellectuals, from Persia – modern-day Iran or Iraq.  They symbolized humanity’s attempt at that time to find meaning in life.  They were the knowledge-keepers of the known world.

Matthew wants his first readers – and us – to remember that we too follow the light of a star – that we are called to have that Christ-light within us – guiding us to shine in any place where there is pain or loneliness or sickness or despair.  We think that we can change the world by being in control – but that is not so. Only when we shine the light of peace and hope and joy and love will there be real change in our world – a change to a more just and equitable world for everyone. 

In the year 1895 the American author and Presbyterian clergyman, Henry van Dyke, had experienced a time of great sickness and sorrow. And he had not been able to solve the problems that bothered him. But in the midst of all this, a story came into his mind that he felt he must write down. He called it: “The Story of the Other Wise Man”.  And in the preface, this is what he wrote: “I do not know where it came from – it is not written in any other book – and yet I have never felt as if it was my own.  It was a gift. It was sent to me; and it seemed as if I knew the Giver, though his name was not spoken…. In one of those long, lonely nights this story came to me.”   And after more than 100 years, this little book is still in print.  The story goes like this:

In ancient Persia, three wise men set out on a journey to follow a new star that they believe heralds the birth of a new king of Israel.  Artaban, a fourth wise man, is also aware of the prophecies and decides to join his friends. He sells all his possessions and buys three jewels – a sapphire, a ruby and a pearl – to give to the king. However, on his way to meet the other wise men, Artaban encounters a stranger lying by the wayside and he stops to help the man until his strength returns.  The man tells Artaban that he is a Jew and that he’s heard about the birth of a baby who will be the Messiah.  He prays for Artaban’s safe arrival in Bethlehem because Artaban has had pity on the sick.  

But as a result of the delay, Artaban misses his opportunity to meet the other wise men and go with them to find the newborn king. Nevertheless, he keeps searching.

Throughout his journey, Artaban faces many challenges and sacrifices, always guided by his faith and his compassion.  He sells his precious jewels to fund his acts of kindness, but still with the hope of finding the king and presenting him with a gift worthy of his divinity. Despite his best efforts, Artaban misses the major events of the nativity, including the visit of the magi to infant Jesus and the flight into Egypt.

Years pass, and Artaban continues his search for the king.  Finally his journey takes him toJerusalem, where he witnesses the crucifixion of Jesus.  In his final act of selflessness, Artaban uses his last remaining jewel, a pearl of great price, to ransom a young girl from slavery.  It is the last of his treasures that he had kept for the king.

Old and exhausted, Artaban hears a divine voice.  In response he asks the Lord:

“When did I see you hungry and feed you – or thirsty and give you a drink? Or a stranger and take you in? Or naked and clothe you? Or sick or in prison and come to visit you? Thirty-three years I have looked for you, but I have never seen your face or ministered to you, my king”.

Then, as he dies, Artaban hears the divine voice telling him: “Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you did it to me.”  Artaban’s journey is ended. His treasures are accepted. He has found the King.

This past week former American president Jimmy Carter died at the age of 100. Commentators said that he was not a great president – he was not a politician – although he will be remembered for negotiating successfully the Camp David Accord between Egypt and Israel.

But what Jimmy Carter will be most remembered for is his volunteer work after his presidency– his dedication to human rights - and his commitment to helping others - especially his work for Habitat for Humanity – a selflessness and a focus inspired by his deep Christian faith.

In a radio interview that I heard after Jimmy Carter’s death, Neil Hetherington, the former head of Habitat for Humanity in Toronto, told the story of being in church one time with Jimmy Carter in Plains, Georgia.  In the service leaflet there was a list of volunteers – and there was Jimmy Carter’s name – it was his turn to cut the grass around the church that month.  Just one example of servant leadership – of staying true to his values and his faith - taking his turn at simple but important tasks around the church.  The week before, Jimmy Carter had accepted the Nobel Peace Prize!

As we journey through life – searching for the meaning of the Christ-child for us – we are called to share our gifts with those we meet.  Each one of us has gifts no matter how small and insignificant we think they are.

Not only do we forget that we have God-given gifts to share – we forget that each day of our lives is a gift – an opportunity to show God’s love to those around us.  Every day is a new beginning when we can shine God’s light in the many dark corners of our world.

Remember the words of Archbishop Desmond Tutu:

“Hope is being able to see that there is light, despite the darkness. My humanity is bound up in yours. For we can only be human together.  Do your little bit of good where you are.  It’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”

Amen.