So
this week, we celebrate the Epiphany. And in Matthew's version, we do that with
the appearance and worship of the wise men. It's great - but we get a lot of
information that comes from cultural references, not biblical. For example,
Matthew never tells us they were 'kings'. We don't know how many there were, or
what their names were, or exactly where they came from.
On
the other hand, the scriptures give us a LOT of information, in a small amount
of words, that we might overlook if we're not careful.
For
example, the 'wise men from the East' come to Jerusalem, and they secure an
audience with the king. That, in and of itself is a big deal. This is like
foreign dignitaries just showing up in Ottawa, and Steven Harper taking time to
meet with them. So obviously, these guys are carrying some significant
credentials.
And
they come to the local king with a question, that baffles him: "Where is
the child who has been born King of the Jews?" Whoa. Why is this baffling?
Because Herod is not Jewish; he has likely not heard about what's been going on
- he wasn't in Bethlehem at the birth, he wasn't in the temple when Jesus was
presented, and the prophets Simeon and Anna declared his glory. No, Herod was
likely in his palace, a place called Herodium (how's that for ego?). It was on
the top of a mountain, about 5km south east of Bethlehem and 15km south of
Jerusalem.
And
yet these impressive wise men have come here to ask Herod where to find a child
born to parents of a minority group, in a community of - well, of nobodies.
They don't ask Herod about his own reign, they don't offer him gifts; instead
they ask about a child, to whom they wish to pay homage. This hints that Herod is in political hot
water - if this child is considered the king, then what does that mean for
Herod's tenure as king? If these travelers are recognising the authority of the
child, what does that mean for Herod's foreign relations?
Baffling
indeed.
So
let's think about these guests, these wise men. Now, by "wise men" we
don't mean folks who were at the head of their class - this isn't the biblical
version of Einstein, Edison, Hawking. The word in Greek is 'magi' - and
biblically, that's all we know about them. We don't know how many showed up, or
how large an entourage, or how long it took them to get there. All we know,
biblically, is that they showed up.
They
showed up, they chatted with Herod, asked for directions, and said that had
gotten there from having Observed his star at it's rising.
So.
They saw a star, and started a journey. Maybe they came together, maybe they
met up along the way. But they followed the star. For years - they come to the
house (not the manger scene at the inn); they come to see the child (not the infant).
But
- they came. Following a star. Amazing, in and of itself. I mean, we all see
stars, right? Do we ever follow them? No, because the stars that we see don't
move like that. We see physical, astronomical stars. The star seen by the magi
- well, that was clearly more than a normal star.
And
here's the important part about the magi today: they were wise enough to follow
that mystical star. And that's the beauty of the magi, as theologians Borg and
Crossan articulate: "the word refers to a kind of religious figure: magi had wisdom by being in touch with
another reality. ... [M]agi were
people with a more than earthly wisdom."[1]
The
magi were folks who were given the gift of discernment. They could tell that
something different, something important was happening, from the first moment
they saw the star. And it was enough to change their lives in every way. They
did this because the Spirit was stirring up in them a call to a change, a call
to something new and different. Maybe they listened to the Spirit right from
the start, maybe it took them a while. Maybe they wanted to go to Bethlehem,
maybe they wanted to just stay home, where they were comfortable.
But
here's the thing about the Spirit - she's determined, she's persistent, and
she's fiesty. When the Spirit wants you to know something, you will know it.
It's just how she works. Look how she worked in the magi; without that
discernment, we'd have a very different Christmas story; the Spirit made sure
it happened exactly as it should.
And
the great thing about the Spirit is this: she doesn't just speak to a few
people like the magi - she speaks to us all. She doesn't just speak in biblical
times and places, she continues to speak to us today, wherever we are. She
invites us all to recognise when something is being stirred up within us, when
we are being called to change, when we are being called into a different
expression of ministry.
And so we acknowledge - faithfully
and joyfully - that the Spirit is again guiding and directing our lives into
new and exciting ministries. In the past 5 years, I've witnessed great changes
in this parish family. Since I came here and we were a new 6-point parish, we
have moved from "well, we'll give it 2-3 years and see what happens"
to "well of COURSE we're church, and we're staying church!" to where
we are now. We're no longer gathering just because it's what we do as a church;
rather because we're church, we are gathering and reaching out. This
community is on the cusp of something new and exciting, as it is discerning new
ways to reach out into the community, to minister to our communities, to be a
vibrant Christian presence that is outside the box. We've had many
conversations in the past few months as folks - individually and collectively -
have felt that stirring of the Spirit, that desire to do more, be more, to
celebrate God's love in our lives in more, different ways.
That's
been our discernment; and it's good. I have absolutely *loved* watching this
discernment, and this growth, this stirring up of the Spirit in our midst.
The
Spirit, however, sometimes calls us to some difficult changes. For some time
now, the Spirit has been stirring up in me a call to change. I've ignored her,
I've denied her, I've rejected her. But: the Spirit: determined, persistent,
feisty: the Spirit will not be ignored. And so it is with sadness that I tell
you this morning that I have been called elsewhere. Starting in mid-March, I
will begin a new ministry in a different parish; and so my time with you will
come to an end at the end of February.
And so
we all enter into a time of transition: of prayer, of discernment, of trusting
in the Spirit. We enter into a time of trusting that God is WITH us - as this
Christmas season comes to an end, and at all times. We enter into this time
knowing that with God, nothing is impossible. We enter into this time knowing
that the Spirit is not just speaking to us: at this very moment, I truly
believe, the Spirit is stirring up in someone, a call towards this gorgeous
parish. The gifts and joys of this parish will call to the heart and mind of
someone with such force that they will not be able to deny the Spirit. It may happen quickly, it may take some time;
this person may hear the call easily, or they may be as stubborn and obtuse as
I am. But: the Spirit speaks.
And
the Spirit speaks also to you: She is with us all in these months as I prepare
to leave. She will be with you in the interim time as you jointly discern the
future of this parish. She will be with you when you welcome the right person
to lead you in the next phase of ministry.
So I
pray that we might listen carefully for the Spirit's voice. This is the Spirit
who guides and directs our ministry in the world, who led the magi to the Holy
Child, who spoke to and through the prophets, who sustains us and invites us to
listen. May we be faithful to the Spirit as she journeys with us.
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