2023 Archived

Sermon, January 1, 2023

Epiphany 

Today, on this first Sunday of 2023, we  celebrate the Sunday of Epiphany a little early.  It is not quite January 6, but the lessons in the story of the wise men, or magi, or kings are as important to us today as they were 2000 years ago. 

Why is this story in the Bible?  Well, if you believe the Bible is a living document, then you accept the fact that stories in the bible lead you to truth, to hope, to faith, but most importantly of all, they can lead you to knowledge of yourself, which is the most important knowledge of all. 

Briefly, the story tells us that once the baby Jesus was born, men from the east followed a star to the house where the baby Jesus was living with his mother.  The story tell us they brought three gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 21-2, 9-11)   Look at the specifics:  we are not told  how many men came;  we are not told from what country that journeyed from, we know only that they followed a star, found the baby, and gave gifts of gold (meaning wealth), frankincense (perfume), and myrrh (an embalming fluid.)     Through the centuries, each gift began to have great significance to the Jesus story.  Of course gold is wealth and in most historical cases wealth belonged to the kings, the leaders of  a people.  The story associated the gift of gold with Jesus as a king...of course he might and hopefully be king of your heart, but he was never earthly wealthy nor considered a king. 

Frankincense was used by underling priests in the east to send smoke upward where God resides. Up, as in up in the sky.  Some churches today such as high Anglican and some Catholics still use incense as part of their worship. 

Myrrh was used in ancient times to consecrate priests and kings.  It was also used in embalming.  Embalming back then included some ideas that perhaps life would continue after death. 

Again, through the ages, these three gifts were symbolized to help us see Jesus as our king, our priest, and our source for life after death. 

The story never tells us where the men were from, but perhaps from Persia.  The number of visitors is never mentioned;  therefore people think because there were three gifts there were three men...plus the number three eventually led us to think of the Trinity in our Christian development. 

Let’s see what this story can mean to us in the year 2023.  Epiphany means “manifestation.”  That is God showing up in our lives.  That statement is vital to our existence.  If we live to block God from our lives, we don’t really live they way we are inclined to do so.  We all seek peace.  We all want justice.  We all need love.  It is God and God’s way that ultimately provides all three.  What is important to us as Christian believers is to ensure that God does manifest in us, that God does show up in our daily actions.  How kind are we to people different from us?  How giving are we to people in real need?  How loving are we to people housed away in nursing homes or who live alone?  How active are we in our community, our schools, our churches?   God’s way brings light.  And light is life giving in so many ways we can’t count them all. 

Let’s look at the 3 men and 3 gifts in the story of the epiphany from a personal perspective.  Are you a king?  I hope and pray you are king of our own soul.  No one else can ever be.  You alone are responsible for the health and wealth of your soul.   The health of your soul is your personal capacity to love, to forgive, and to care for others. 

Are you a magi?  That is an underling in Christian life?  Do you say you love God, you want to follow and serve Jesus, but do you actually do so?  Do you act on your love?  Who do you love?  How do you show this love you have, the compassion that keeps us growing in spiritual ways? 

Or, are you a wise person….that is one who knows your national and religious history?  We are not enlightened people until we understand from whence we have come...the joys and heartbreaks of the journey that has preceded us for thousands of years.  Upon whose shoulders do you stand? 

If you do write down New Year’s Resolutions, you might resolve to better understand who you are through better understanding of how you got here and why. 

We can do that together in church, in conversations, in bible study, and in reading the bible then asking questions about what we read.  Let’s work together to maintain and further the cause of Christian living.  Otherwise, I dread to think of what might befall us due to lack of understanding and very little appreciation. 

Together, as a church family, let’s put a hopeful attitude toward the New Year and do our part to fulfill its mission of making life better for more and more people.

Amen 

Sermon

Sermon

Sermon

Sermon

Sermon

Sermon

Sermon

Sermon

Sermon

Sermon

Sermon