This is the 12th and Last Day of Christmas and the Eve of Epiphany
Selected Eucharistic Gospel Reading for Epiphany: All Years
“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.” (Matthew 2: 1 and 2)
We are all born into some kind of human culture. Most cultures are primarily predominated by something we have come to recognize as “race.” Too often, too many of us develop a shameful pride with regard to whatever race we claim to be. This is sad to me. Race is a human construct, not a Godly one.
The Wise Men (or Magi) were primarily astronomers who gazed up at the stars. They noticed any irregularities occurring in the heavens and maybe even conferred amongst themselves the meaning of any strange happenings. How they knew a star, or particular shining light, was the signal of a Jewish infant-king, we will perhaps never know. What we do know is that these men sought out this king regardless of whatever his ethnicity or race he might be. Perhaps this is what made them “wise men.” They were most probably men, we don’t know how many and we shouldn’t let the three gifts limit the number of men.
They saw a divine light that must have been distinguished from regular stars and planets. It was so precise that it could specifically indicate the place where the child was living. No star up in the heavens, no matter how bright could stop, and then be low enough to the earth to point to a specific dwelling place. This divine light pointed to the Moral Light of the world.
During the season of Epiphany let us not worry about who we are ethnically, but rather, seek out our Lord Jesus wherever, and in whoever he might be today, male or female. We are still called to follow that light, that moral light, that leads us to that moral high-ground where we treat each other, all others with dignity and respect regardless of their socio-economic status, national origin, language, sexual orientation, gender, religion, lack of religion, or so-called race. The other only needs to be human and therefore made in God’s Image.
Wise people still seek him today: Merry Christmas: Day 12
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
Let us pray; Collect for Second Sunday after Christmas Day (BCP p.214)
O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
onewhoponders 