January 6, 2008

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Epiphany Sunday

Please read:

Matthew 2:1-12

Read also:

Isaiah 60:1-6

Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14

Ephesians 3:1-12

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." 

When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him;  and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 

They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:  'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'" 

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared.  Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." 

When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.   On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 

And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.                     --- Matthew 2:1-12

      .       Another Way     .

Ancient astrologers, following a star,

thought that their path led to Jerusalem,

only to discover that the child they sought

was a few miles south in Bethlehem. 

And what an unlikely sight!

They came to seek a king

 and what did they find?

None of the accoutrements of royalty:

A very ordinary family,

a  village carpenter,

a teenage bride.

Could there be royalty from such as these? 

And yet the stars had told them so.

And not wishing to return home

still laden with their gifts,

they gave them up,

laying them before the child,

mustering what joy they could,

considering the circumstance. 

Back in Jerusalem,

Old Herod had treated them graciously,

promising that should they find the child,

the newborn king,

he too would come to worship.

(The gifts he had in mind were

neither gold nor myrrh nor frankincense.

The only gifts he knew were sword and spear

-- and death.)

But God, not to be outfoxed by Herod,

had other plans.

So in the night,

The Eternal One penetrated time,

as God is wont to do sometimes,

and using the instrumentality

of the subconscious

addressed the magi,

offering them a divine GPS,

and warning them to go home

by a different route.

Lord, when I am tempted

to accept the magi-cal whimsical fancy

of signs and stars,

or the brute force of Herod,

speak to my soul.

Reveal to me that other road

that is your will and purpose for my life.

--- rvc

*** D I S C L A I M E R ***

The Weekly Lessons are based on the lectionary texts for the week – usually the Gospel lesson. They are not designed as a formal commentary.  Rather, they are the personal reflections and original compositions of The Relay Online editor, Rev. Robin Van Cleef, and offer a jumping off point, using the scriptures as triggers to thought, imagination, and (we hope) empowerment.  As you read them, let your own imagination play, and let the Spirit speak to you, leading you where it will.  The Gospel Lessons reflected on this site may not be copied, reproduced or otherwise manipulated elsewhere on the internet without the expressed consent of the author.  Please also note that while we're unable to quote Bible scripture on these pages, it is permissible to redirect our viewers to Bible passages using hyperlinks to web sites having that authority.

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