Epiphany!

"And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went home by another way."

Together, we read and discussed the Epiphany story, the coming of the magi, in Matthew 2:1-12. We realized that if the "wise men" were to go back to Jerusalem and report to Herod as the king had commanded, it would be safer personally for these visitors from the east. But it would be very dangerous and even deadly for the young Jesus.
To "go home by another way" would be to risk joining God's conspiracy of loving salvation for the world, God's life-giving, ever-enlivening web. But the magi would be in real trouble if they were to be caught by Herod's police. Self perservation . . . or to live beyond themselves? These are the matters of an emerging faith. Class members said that it can be hard to do the right thing. It's hard because doing what's right often requires more from you, and you feel vulnerable when you are doing something different than what everyone else seems to be doing. We thought of the wise men; all the "religious people" and "legal" citizens were following Herod's voice, but they were listening to God's! And God was asking them to do God's new thing! In our class, I suggested that my recent research indicated that, when considering the story for today,there are not three magi but four. The group includes male and female. Rather than carrying the odd names legend ascribes-- Caspar, Balthazar and Melchoir-- these magi have parents who've named them Erin, Nikolas, Max, and Austin. We know that the original magi brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Jesus, but of what value will these gifts be to a toddler at risk. So, I asked, what will our present day magi bring to young Jesus when you come to worship him and pay him homage? Class members are bringing: (1) mint leaves (they are soothing) (2) good clothing (3) sports memorabilia (something of great value) (4) music. Jesus will be gift-ed! The wise folk in Matthew 2:1-12 brought other gifts than those from their treasure chests, we believed. They brought themselves, they brought their love, they brought their emerging faith. These are the gifts being offered when the magi make thier inspired choice for the child, when they listen to God's voice and envision God's dream being realized. They go home different than the way they came. Amen! When have you been faced with important decisions where to do the right thing meant taking risks on behalf of other people? Where protecting someone else, or doing God's will as you have learned it from Jesus, makes you different? When do the choices you make for yourself have a powerful impact on someone else?