Matthew 2:1-12
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem, astrologers from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child born king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising, and have come to honour him." When Herod heard this, he was frightened; calling together the chief priests and scribes, he inquired of them where this Messiah was to be born. They said, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for it was written by the prophet: 'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'" Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned the exact time when the star appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; when you have found him, send word so that I may also go and honour him." They set out; ahead of them the star moved, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; they knelt down and paid him homage. Opening their treasure chests, they offered gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Then, having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
Matthew 3:13-19
Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John objected, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, yet you come to me?" Jesus replied, "Let it be so; for it is proper for us, in this way, to fulfill all righteousness." So John agreed. When Jesus had been immersed, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens opened to him; he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. A voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased."
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Do you like to travel? You probably know by now that my husband and I travel a lot. In 2009 - between us - we went to Panama, Colombia, the western Caribbean, Japan, Cuba, and all the eastern provinces of Canada. In 2010 - between us - we went to St. Maarten and St. Thomas, Dominican Republic. Japan, Cuba, and Finland - as well as Tennessee and Florida. We always lament that we don’t spend nearly long enough in any place, and see just enough that we want to return and explore some more.
Travelling changes us if we are paying attention. In January 2009, I went to Cartagena de Indias in Colombia - just a few hours on a cruise excursion - but even in a few hours saw the Museum of the Inquisition, heard tales of Spanish torture; saw a church where Jesuit priests defended indigenous peoples, and were killed for it. It was enough to have eyes opened, and be changed enough to want to return. In Panama, I saw a country struggling to modernise itself , and heard the pride of people who now have control of their own destiny. They have a vision for their country. If we are open to seeing, even such a short time can change us, because it changes how we see our own lives as well.
Matthew tells us that some men saw something in the sky which made them leave their homes, their comforts, and take a long journey to a completely new place. They had no idea where they were going, actually - they just knew that they had to go. They were not tourists, nor on a trip for their health. They believed this journey had a purpose of incredible importance. But stars don’t always shine in clear skies, and a trip using hand-held instruments, through cold snowy deserts, on unknown roads, would have been quite dangerous. Sometimes the star was brilliant, sometimes the light was completely obscured and the way unclear.
We are told, almost as an aside, that they returned home by another road. Wait a minute! There’s no more star, no more light, and after this tremendous journey they have to set out on different roads equally unknown, equally dangerous, and find their way back home? Yet they have been changed. They have seen something totally new, totally outside their everyday lives. Because of this journey, they must go by another road.
Jesus comes to John to be baptised. Much speculation goes on about why Jesus would do this. Did he know from birth what he was to do, or did he develop a sense of call as he grew up? Was this baptism an entering into the community of faith, or entering into John’s movement? But Jesus was already a member of a community of faith, an active, practicing Jew who attended synagogue and temple.
So perhaps he finds an affinity with John, who takes the Jewish ritual and turns it into something new, a way of prompting people to think a little more about their faith.
So it’s important to note that baptism for the Jews was a ritual by which people were cleansed before worshipping in the temple, except that they could perform the ritual but not be repentant in their hearts. John’s call to baptism includes repentance.
After Jesus is baptised, Matthew says “as he came up out of the water, the heavens were opened to him...and he saw the spirit descending as a dove and alighting on him.” Jesus says to John that this is done “to fulfill all righteousness.”
We are in the season of Epiphany. Thursday was Epiphany Day for us. The word ‘epiphany’ means to have an “aha” moment when we can see clearly things which had been obscure before.
The Magi had an epiphany - from the beginning when they saw the star, to the place where they found Jesus and realised they had seen something which would change their lives forever, to the setting out again on unknown roads, trusting that they were being led.
Jesus had an epiphany, I believe. I am not convinced he knew himself what his life would hold - but like many of us called to ministry, he felt an impetus to something which he could not ignore. In order fulfill all righteousness, that is - to be cleansed and in good and right relationship with God - he felt he had to take this step.
Now - John says he baptises for repentance. Repentance literally means turning around and going on another road, another path from the one we are on now. The Magi set out on what they thought was one road, and ended up on a completely different road than the one on which they arrived. Their lives were irreversibly changed.
Jesus came for baptism - maybe a step in his process of discernment which he himself felt was necessary, to be in right relationship with God. His sense is confirmed when he has an “aha” moment, when God could be heard and seen and felt - and his sense of call into ministry was confirmed. It meant that he had to turn, and step out on another road altogether. It happened in a flash - and probably to those around him there was no break in continuity. It happened to *him*. It meant he likely had no idea where ministry would lead, but he had to do it, and he had to trust even when the way was not clear.
The magi didn’t know how the story ended - and in fact for them it didn’t end. They met Herod, and with a flash of insight knew that was not the way to go; they found the child, and knew they had found something special; and at the end they knew they could not return home the same way. Matthew says they found the house where Jesus was, and offered their gifts. They might have stayed a couple of hours, or overnight Yet even in that brief time, their lives were completely changed.
As we come into a new year, - 2011 - what is it which leads us as a congregation? What ideas do we want to honour and worship? What is our potential for life in the future??? What makes us look up, look forward, step out on the road?
Throughout Advent, through Christmas, and into Epiphany we travel a road. We try to find new insight; to learn new things about ourselves and our faith. Today, with the Magi, we come to the house and find the child. We come to offer our gifts, and we leave again by another road, trusting that God is with us. May it be so.
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Sources:
- sermon “New Light” 2008 by Fran Ota
- sermon “Another Road” 1995 Fran Ota
- “Midrash” online lectionary discussion
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