Let’s imagine that we are the Magi, and that we are entering the structure in Bethlehem where Mary and Joseph are taking care of their son, Jesus. There are no lanterns, but by the bright starlight from outside we can see clearly. This is more of a barn than a house, and the little family is surrounded by animals. In fact, the infant is actually sleeping in a corn crib, an animal feeding trough. He is lying on straw, wrapped in linen and cotton woven from local fields. We can hear the noises the animals make, stamping and bleating. When we come close to them, we can feel the animals’ warm breath and their thick, furry winter coats. This place smells like a barn, like wet fur, and alfalfa, and animals. Pretty soon the smell permeates our clothes—when we leave, we will smell like sheep and cows as well.
Jesus is a beautiful child, and his parents are clearly devoted to him. We can see by their simple clothes and scarcity of belongings that they are far from wealthy. Our encounter with Herod has made us more acutely aware of the family’s disadvantaged political situation, being of Judean heritage in this Roman-occupied territory. We have been searching for a long time for the new spiritual leader of the Judeans, hoping to find in him one sent by God to establish a new world order, the fulfillment of the Jewish prophets’ visions of a more just, compassionate world. And we realize that we have found him, and we honor him with gifts as a representative of God should be honored. But we realize a new enlightenment as well—that this newborn leader is of one being with his physical surroundings, as we all are, organically unified with the plants and animals around him, and with the poor shepherds taking care of them. He is sent by God, but of humble estate, and threatened by empire. He is one of us. Though we are not Judeans, and live far away, we were born of mothers like this young woman, we are nourished by the same foods and drink the same water. We have families like this one, and are similarly subject to social pressures and conflicts. We all smell the same here. And we are all searching, hoping for a better, more loving world in the future, and for people to stop fighting and to work together to become more spiritually united with the Source of Being and with one another.
Now let’s imagine that we are here together in 2019 in Indianapolis, at St. Mary of Magdala. Through our contemplation of the Christmas and Epiphany stories we have read throughout this season, we realize a little more each time that we are made up of the same molecules as these stories’ characters were, and have the same feelings and aspirations and longings. We are still trying to reform our faith community, to help our human family evolve in understanding of God’s purposes and authentic personification of God’s love. Sometimes it seems we have made a lot of progress over the centuries, but at other times, it seems like there is still a lot of work to do. So, we need to mount up, Magi. We need to keep searching, studying, praying, and uniting, the best we can. But at least we know where the star stopped, over whose house it hovered, and whose teachings and example can guide us. Before I ask for your reflections,
I like to share a poem, called Song for the Feast of the Epiphany, by Christine Rodgers.
Be bold like the Magi.
Do not tarry, settling into your comfort, but rather
set out keeping the star in your vision.
It will lead you to the place you are most in need of the place where God is.
And if an angel warns you in a dream
not to return by the old way,
please
listen.
So, what do you see by the light of Epiphany?
Jesus is a beautiful child, and his parents are clearly devoted to him. We can see by their simple clothes and scarcity of belongings that they are far from wealthy. Our encounter with Herod has made us more acutely aware of the family’s disadvantaged political situation, being of Judean heritage in this Roman-occupied territory. We have been searching for a long time for the new spiritual leader of the Judeans, hoping to find in him one sent by God to establish a new world order, the fulfillment of the Jewish prophets’ visions of a more just, compassionate world. And we realize that we have found him, and we honor him with gifts as a representative of God should be honored. But we realize a new enlightenment as well—that this newborn leader is of one being with his physical surroundings, as we all are, organically unified with the plants and animals around him, and with the poor shepherds taking care of them. He is sent by God, but of humble estate, and threatened by empire. He is one of us. Though we are not Judeans, and live far away, we were born of mothers like this young woman, we are nourished by the same foods and drink the same water. We have families like this one, and are similarly subject to social pressures and conflicts. We all smell the same here. And we are all searching, hoping for a better, more loving world in the future, and for people to stop fighting and to work together to become more spiritually united with the Source of Being and with one another.
Now let’s imagine that we are here together in 2019 in Indianapolis, at St. Mary of Magdala. Through our contemplation of the Christmas and Epiphany stories we have read throughout this season, we realize a little more each time that we are made up of the same molecules as these stories’ characters were, and have the same feelings and aspirations and longings. We are still trying to reform our faith community, to help our human family evolve in understanding of God’s purposes and authentic personification of God’s love. Sometimes it seems we have made a lot of progress over the centuries, but at other times, it seems like there is still a lot of work to do. So, we need to mount up, Magi. We need to keep searching, studying, praying, and uniting, the best we can. But at least we know where the star stopped, over whose house it hovered, and whose teachings and example can guide us. Before I ask for your reflections,
I like to share a poem, called Song for the Feast of the Epiphany, by Christine Rodgers.
Be bold like the Magi.
Do not tarry, settling into your comfort, but rather
set out keeping the star in your vision.
It will lead you to the place you are most in need of the place where God is.
And if an angel warns you in a dream
not to return by the old way,
please
listen.
So, what do you see by the light of Epiphany?
RSS Feed
