A Beam of Light

Jan 6, 2013 Sunday Sermon    

Matt. 2:1-12

Today we begin the season of Epiphany… it’s often viewed as the season of light. And…Speaking of light… “There’s a story of the Greeks that had a race in their Olympic games that was unique. The winner was not the runner who finished first. It was the runner who finished first with his torch still lit.”

And of course with a title saying “A Beam of Light” it reminds me of Star Trek and the phrase that was never really said, but became a cultural slogan… “Beam Me Up Scotty.”

Prayer:

                                   

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Matthew says, “Some Wise Men came from the east. They saw a star, and have come to worship him.” This is the day of Epiphany… the day we celebrate wise men bringing gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. And it falls on Sunday this year and that doesn’t happen all too often… about every 7-8 years depending on how many leap years falls. It’s also a time where we recognize “The Light”… the light of the star… the light in the darkness… the light of Christ…

So… it’s  “A Message from the Magi”

It would be easy to share a message like this that focuses on the gifts of the Magi or as Matt states… Some Wise Men....  Matt. Doesn’t say there were 3 wise men. There is no mention to the number of wise men or Magi, or kings. All matt says is that some wise men come bearing gifts and this invites us to consider what gifts we might offer.

o    What passions, interests, and talents do we bring from God to offer Jesus?

o    Perhaps, you have a passion for serving food to people?

o    Perhaps, your passion & gift is teaching.

o    Perhaps, your gift is music or singing, or drama, or using your hands to create something?

This type of message would be easy to deliver and to empower you. But… I’m not sure that’s what we need to hear today…. I’m not sure that’s what God wants us to hear today.

“In the birth stories of Matt. & Luke we miss a subtle nuance.”

I believe we miss a couple of subtle nuances in the birth stories of Matt. & Luke about what God is announcing to the world. First… Luke doesn’t mention kings or wise men… Luke describes God sharing good news to lowly shepherds. Shepherds were among the poorest people at the time. They were not highly educated, and often were forced into being sheep caretakers, and they were dirty, and smelled really bad. They stunk…

Second…Matt on the other hand, doesn’t mention shepherds, but wise men following a star. Who were the wise men bearing gifts? We’ve often thought of them being “Kings.” But who were they really? The truth is… these wise men were star gazers…. These guys were scientists…. Astrologers… and they were from the east… some say Persia (modern day Iran).

MMM… God is using a Star with a Beam of Light for some astrologers to pay homage to a baby messiah….

“On one hand God comes to the poor & down-trodden, and on the other hand God comes to the rich & powerful.”

What is God think he’s doing? What... Does... God... Think... He's.... Doing?

Is this a first indication in the New Testament God is doing something different? Not only by sending his son in the human form of a baby… a lowly position in life. But also… with the arrival of these wandering star following astrologers, which is a high life position. Do we see in our story today what God is doing? Do we see God in these stories broadening his far reaching embrace? With the shepherds, baby Jesus, and the wise men being part of the story, is God saying, “There is no longer an “Insider” or an “Outsider” to the kingdom?

Is God really saying to us today that all are included in God’s plan of salvation? Is this the first indication we get of God doing something different? And… I think we often miss it! I know I have.

“It seems God did not intend to have only Christians as part of his kingdom.”

What do you think about that?

         Is this like of a scary thought to you?

     That potentially others & not only Christians might be part of God’s greater plan.

Jesus demonstrated this thru-out his ministry. Talking, healing, comforting the sick, the outcast, those on the outside of the religious spectrum. Putting his arms around people to heal and comfort. Engaging people that were not part of the in-group.

Also… Paul in Gal. 3:28...There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, circumcised or uncircumcised, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.

This idea may have been what bothers Herod, and the religious leaders in our story… Vs 3… “When King Herod heard about this he was worried, as was everyone else in Jerusalem.”

For the religious leaders in Jerusalem, those on the inside, the baby Jesus… the Messiah was making them a bit anxious… it’s not what they expected…. WHY???? They knew!!! God promised to send them a Messiah…. What were they afraid of? Well… today we know their fear.

God came into the world (Their World) in a very unobtrusive way. God worked in a low-profile and discreet kind of manner. While the wealth & power of Jerusalem missed the opportunity, God sought out others to share the good news. He sought out smelly shepherds and talented astrologers… and they all came… Perhaps out of curiosity… but they came. And… think about this… Did Jesus care who came? Did Jesus, the babe messiah, dismiss their overtures of love?

Let’s reflect for a moment this quote from Lutheran theologian Craig Satterlee, “The Magi didn’t come looking for the Christ through preaching, liturgy, sacrament, a welcoming congregation, or a vital social ministry -- things I hold dear. They came seeking the Christ after studying the night skies. As someone who holds on to favorite, cherished ways that God works to proclaim the gospel and bring people to faith, it’s always wondrously frightening to realize anew that God’s own work of embracing all people is more “mystery” than “formula,” because God’s ways are always bigger than my understanding. It’s much safer to spend the sermon piously and sentimentally embellishing the Magi and reading meaning into the number and kind of gifts they bring. 

Yet, if I am honest with myself, these days I sense God reaching out to embrace me in new ways. God is using late Saturday nights spent metaphorically studying the stars to lead me to Christ, more than early Sunday mornings spent sitting in church. Even as I write these words, I worry about a phone call from my bishop warning me that I am in trouble for saying this out loud. A sermon that leaves me basking in the light of Christ’s star, rather than worrying about the implications of the Magi coming to faith apart from the church or outside our formulaic approaches of how faith happens, would be really good news.

The alternative, of course, is to join Herod in not seeing God’s ever-expanding embrace, or feeling threatened by it, and instead giving way to just plain fear: “When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him” (Matthew 2:3). Herod jealously reached out himself, just far enough to violently protect his place and preserve his power.

We too can feel jealous when visitors show up seeking Christ due to experiences outside of our purview and control. We have our own ways of reaching out, just far enough to slaughter someone’s experiences of God’s grace for the sake of our patterns, practices, and perspectives. And so the stage is set for another liturgical year of proclaiming Christ overcoming the conflict between God’s ever expanding embrace and our need to protect and preserve, a drama resolved on the cross and continuing in our day.

What do you think about this?

What is God saying to you?

“The God of Light is for ALL”

I’m wondering if we Christians during the Christmas season… maybe even in all seasons… are only seeking the beam of light shinning only on us? While forgetting the God of Light is for all!!!

I’m also wondering as we begin this new year of excitement as we prepare to call a new pastor to consider how we are reflecting the light of God in our community?

Are we open to the light of God coming from a different place?

Because as we can see… God can bring faith to a variety of people through a variety of ways and use that faith to share the good news.

There it is… do you see it?

See You Out on the Road