Journey's Weekly Homilies
Epiphany Sunday, Year B
January 5, 2003
'For Peace: An Epiphany Homily'
Homily by Sam
Isaiah 60:1-4
Ephesians 3:2-3,5-6
Mathew 2:1-12
Today the prophet Isaiah proclaims one of the most stirring
passages in scripture.
"Arise, shine; for your light has come and the glory of God
has risen upon you. Lo, darkness shall cover the earth and
thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you and
the glory of the Lord will be seen upon you."
Even today as I hear these words I marvel at the hope, the beauty,
the complexity of this simple promise. Even today thick
darkness continues to cover the earth but we live in the light of
God's saving love.
Early Christians thought of Christmas as the light of God shining
in the world for all people. They recalled it differently
according to time and place of the particular community.
Some recognized the coming of light with the birth of Jesus.
Some with his baptism by John. Some even preached about the
wedding of Cana and the miracle of water into wine. And some
celebrated Christmas with the visitation of the magi.
There is not one Christmas story but four. Each of them
tells us three things: the glory of God is present and available
for all people; that light comes in the deepest darkness; and we
are challenged to turn welcome the light and live as God's people.
Today's story of the magi includes each of these messages in
Matthew's unique style.
Today's Gospel would have surprised and mystified many people who
heard it. It reveals that the promised kin, God's chosen is
here. You would think this would be a cause for celebration
but instead it leaves people scratching their heads. The
magi look to the stars and Herod searches the scripture. Who
is this king? Where can we find him? What will this
mean for us?
This is good news for all people so the signs are in the sky as
well as scripture. The magi don't know scripture so they are
given a star to follow. The Jews know scripture so Matthew
cites ancient prophecy to describe the birth of Jesus. In our
second reading Paul summarizes the same message: "The
gentiles are heirs with us and partakers of the same promise"
Yet this promise is fulfilled in a time "when thick darkness
covers the people". One ancient writer describes the time of
Jesus' birth in this way:
"No meeting of people was permitted, nor were walking
together or being together permitted, and all their movements were
observed. Those who were caught were punished severely, and
many were taken eith openly or secretly to the fortress of
Hyrcania and there put to death. Both in the city and on the
open roads there were men who spied upon those who met together.
Those who obstinately refused to go along with Herod's practices
he persecuted in all kinds of ways. As for the rest of the
populace, he demanded that they submit to taking a loyalty oath,
and he compelled them to make a sworn declaration that they would
maintain a friendly attitude towards his rule. Now most
people yielded to his demand out of compaisance or fear, but those
who showed some spirit and objected to compulsion he got rid of by
every possible means."
(Josephus in "The Antiquities")
Matthew's Gospel describes the interrogation of foreign visitors
who seek the new king. Herod kills every child in Bethlehem,
while Joseph and Mary are forced into exile to spare the life of
Jesus. We don't know if any of the things actually happened.
But it is of the kind of world that Jesus was born into. The
journey of the magi would have been a bold act. They were risking
their lives.
In ancient writings magi are always associated with the courts of
kings and attend the coronation of new kings. While the
Christmas song "We Three Kings" is not accurate, the
magi are king-makers as much as they are astrologers. So our
story today is high political drama, a story of resistance to
despotic power and the birth of a liberator, an earnest search for
this new king.
In today's Gospel the response to God's presence in the world is
far from simple. The magi look for God eagerly and accept
God wherever light may be found. Herod responds with fear
and cruelty. He is obsessed with destroying the light.
Perhaps the good news is too great to believe. Perhaps the
birth of the messiah has political and social implications that we
just can't face. Perhaps, as the Gospel of John suggests,
something in us prefers darkness to light.
Matthew knew this from his own community. Sincere Gentiles
were attracted to the message of Jesus. Jews in his
community believed as well but they faced intense pressure.
The Pharisees expelled them from the synagogues and forced people
to publicly curse this new heresy. So the Jews in Matthew's
community had to choose how to respond to the light, to welcome it
or turn away.
And we in our time choose how to respond to the good news of God's
invitation: Arise, shine. Though thick darkness covers the
earth the glory of God has risen in our midst.
I have to admit that this Advent has been very difficult for me.
The darkness seem more real than the light.
This year the Church of the Nativity was under siege as the
Israeli military sought to capture armed men who had taken refuge
there. And for the first Christmas in anyone's memory
pilgrims were turned away from this church that honors the birth
of the Prince of Peace.
And throughout Israel people are scrambling for gas masks and
inoculating themselves against chemical weapons they expect to be
hurled at them when our country invades Iraq. Ytzak Rabin
once said, "Throughout the Middle East people are longing for
the quiet miracle of an ordinary life." Instead they
brace for another war.
Nor do we know peace in our own country where the new year brings
a new war. In the name of security and patriotism immigrants
from all Muslim countries are required to register with the INS
within the next six months. Over one thousand have been imprisoned
so far without charges, without lawyers, without contact with
their families who don't even know where they are.
Citizen soldiers are being called up throughout our land.
They are leaving their jobs and saying good-bye to their families.
"Still is the census taken and men are on the move."
Perhaps the darkness continues because we don't believe enough.
We too easily restrict the Prince of Peace to the safety of our
churches or we follow him in personal ethics bur fail to challenge
the oppressive policies of our own nation. Perhaps we are to prone
to welcome the light as an ideal but regress into darkness when we
are most fearful.
But the birth of Jesus tells us that even the thickest darkness
does not obscure the light of peace which we all long for.
The brief life and work of this simple man kindles our hope for
God's saving justice. It inspires us to seek peace even when
it seem s that all the world is bent on war.
Two months ago I joined eleven thousand people who packed Pioneer
Square to sing, walk, and proclaim our commitment to peace with
Iraq. Eleven thousand people is not many in a city of over a
million. But it is a glimpse of the light. It reminds
me that the hope that Jesus set loose in people continues in our
time. And no terrorist, no dictator, no president can
extinguish the hopes of those who believe.
We at Journey celebrate epiphany on this day. We look to
Jesus as a sign of hope for the world in a perilous and violent
time. In our gathering we remind the world and ourselves
that peace is more than an impossible dream. We say for all
to hear, "We will not take part in this madness."
And we join with others in our prayer: "Peace on earth.
War never again".
We who welcome the light on this day continue the prophecy of
Isaiah, the promise of Jesus, the promise of Paul.
"This is the day you will see God's glory. This is the
day you will see the light