Epiphany

"When the magi saw that the star had stopped they were overwhelmed with joy. Opening their treasures they presented him with gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh."

In her poem ‘A Legend From Russia’ Phyllis McGinley tells the story of the mythical Russian Grandmother ‘Babushka’. In her legend Babushka is invited to meet the royal child born in Bethlehem. The old woman is about to retire for the night’ when out of the winter’s rush and roar came shepherds knocking at her door. They share with her the good news that the child, the long-awaited saviour king has now been born. The shepherds beg her to come and to give what help she can to the blessed mother and to offer worship to the child. Babushka is a good hearted woman, but the warmth of her bed looks more appealing than a long cold journey on a winter’s night. And so she tells the shepherds that she will go tomorrow. And when she asks them to give her some food that they can take in her stead, again she tells them, ‘tomorrow’.

When ’tomorrow’ dawns Babushka is as good as her promise. She prepares a basket with gifts: A shawl for the lady, soft as June. For the child in the crib a silver spoon. Rattles and toys and an ivory game. But the stable was empty when she came. Babushka arrives too late to meet the royal child and to share her gifts. She is angry with herself for not accepting the invitation when it came. And so she begins to wander the world looking for the Christ-child. She joins the legions of wanderers down the history of the world looking for the one who will bring purpose and meaning to life. She joins the legions of wanderers seeking the truth from God to be found in this child.

In today’s Gospel we hear Matthew’ story of the journeying of the Magi. Wise men from the East in search of the truth. They discover the truth from God as they worship the infant king. Today is the Feast of the Epiphany. Or to give today it’s Book of Common Prayer title: ‘The manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles.’ This child is for the whole world. The magi are Gentiles, Pagans. The truth begins first to dawn upon them by means of natural phenomena. They see a star. A new star. According to their pagan belief the rising of a new star signalled the birth of a King or a new dynasty. By their science, by their observation of the world and of human life these wise men begin their journey with a genuine and persevering desire to be led to the truth.

St Paul once wrote that by observing the wonder and the beauty of the world all people could begin to find their way towards God. The theologians refer to this as ‘General Revelation’. There is some of that here in the journey of the wise men as they follow the star to Jesus. They look at the world and they gain insight – but by itself that insight is not enough. It leads them to the wrong place and the wrong king – it leads them to King Herod. But then they are led to the scriptures. From the bible they find the place where the Messiah is to be born: ‘Thus it is written in the prophets and you Bethlehem out of you shall arise a king who shall govern my people Israel’. The star and the scriptures led those wise men to Jesus. And there they are led to fall down in worship before him.

As they open their gifts so they open their hearts to God’s loving gift offered to the world in the Word made flesh. They see in him the truth about God fully revealed. But there is one more incidence of guidance still necessary. The three Magi are warned in a dream not to return to Herod. That is God speaking through his spirit to them leading and directing them, and they follow where the Spirit leads. The way Matthew tells the story we see how the magi were guided by God throughout their entire journey to and from Bethlehem. And as genuine seekers of the truth they were obedient to that guiding.

Reflecting upon this story of the searching journeying of the magi the 18^th century theologian Johan Bengel marvelled at the adaptability of God’s guidance. The ways in which God leads us to him and to the truth about him. Bengel  wrote: The magi are led to Christ by a star, the fishermen by fish, and the shepherd by sheep. 

On our journey we must pay attention to four truths: The star, the scriptures, the saviour, and the spirit.’ In other words there are four ways in which God leads us and guides us. God guides us by the way in which he works and influences the world and its events and its people.

If we look at the life of the world around with Christian insight we can discern God’s purposes as we see all that is good in the world and all that leads to human flourishing. In that we can see the ways of God. God leads us and guides us by the scriptures.  God’s word to us and all his people rightly interpreted and applied to life in the world as it now is becomes  a sure guide to God’s will and purposes for us. God guides us by the life and teaching of Our Lord Jesus Christ. As we reflect upon the life and ministry of Jesus, his life of service self- offering, his teaching and his works of healing so we can discern the quality of life God wants for us and for his Church. Finally God leads us and guides us by the leading light of the Holy Spirit in the Church and in our lives. Through prayer and spiritual intuition and reflection we can come to know Gods will and purposes for us and for the whole Church.

We need to pay attention to each of those four ways in which the good Lord continues to lead and guide us his people. Whether we are picking our way through some tricky ethical dilemma facing us as individuals or the wider Church. Or whether we are seeking God’s will and purposes for our own lives. Maybe some important decision we have to make or we feel is ahead of us – these are the ways that God leads us. What is he doing in the world?  What is he doing in our lives? What does scripture rightly interpreted have to say? What would Jesus do?  What would he want us to do? What is the voice of the Holy Spirit saying to me, to us, to the wider Church?

This is the first Sunday of a New Year. During this forth-coming year we in the Stafford Parish will have some very important decisions to make. They won’t be easy or straightforward. As we set out upon this stage of our journey as the People of God in this place we shall need to follow the example of the Magi. Allow God to lead us and be obedient to him. Take note of the challenges and the opportunities in the town and community around us. What is God doing there?  What is he calling us to do? We must make the Word of God in scripture our constant reference as we seek to minister and witness in the name of Jesus Christ. So all that we do must be shaped and patterned by his life of service. And finally by prayer and reflection to seek the leading light of the Holy Spirit. Then like the magi we shall be led to God’s truth for us and fall down before that truth in true worship.