The Search

Epiphany
January 7, 2001

By
The Rev. Ann M. Smith

Based on the Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12

At a Vacation Bible School in my last church, the children had an outreach project. At the end of the week a speaker came to accept the contributions and to tell the children a little about where the money and gifts would go. He finished his explanation and asked if there were any questions. Hands shot up. One little girl asked, "What is the meaning of life?"

We have many questions, particularly when it comes to faith. As we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany, one of the important questions is, what does Epiphany mean? As some of you will no doubt know, it means a manifestation, revelation. The Epiphany and the Sundays that follow celebrate the revealing of God's incarnate self to humanity. We celebrate the unfolding of the great mystery of the Incarnation. It means a showing, a direction for our search.

Today's readings point out that all of us are intended to search. In the passage from Isaiah we see prefigured the response of the world to the coming of Christ. The light has come. The glory of the Lord has risen upon the world. The light stands out distinctly in the darkness. It shines. It beckons. It draws us. In the Epistle to the Ephesians, Paul speaks of the great mystery of the Incarnation, a mystery made known to him through revelation, and participated in by all of creation. It is, for Paul, a possibility of a unity so wonderful that it could change even the past. It is the eternal truth, the definitive answer, for the future.

But it is the story of the Magi, searching out the child, bringing gifts, paying homage to the Messiah, that speaks to us on a deep level about our own need to search until we find. The magi were searchers. They were astrologers who spent their lives scanning the skies for signs. They have seen a sign, the sign of a child born to be a king. There is only one possibility for them, and that is to follow the star wherever it may lead until they find the child. It is a risk they must take. They leave the safety of their homeland, their families, their friends. They set out into the unknown to search for some answers.

The quest takes them to the court of Herod. It makes sense, does it not, that a king would be born in a palace. And Herod calls in his wise men, all of the chief priests and scribes, and asks them about the Messiah. They search the Scriptures and find the answer. The child will be born in Bethlehem. You would think, wouldn't you, that hearing about the star at its rising and knowing that the child will be born in Bethlehem, they would set out to find out more. But they have found out all that they wanted to know. For them, at any rate, the search is over. Their hearts do not follow their heads. They do not take a risk. Perhaps something stirs in them. "I'll look into this some day!" But somehow or other they never continue the search. They may from time to time feel a sense of yearning, of unexplained longing. But they are not willing to risk that it might change their lives.

The search is not over for the magi. They set out immediately for Bethlehem. They are willing to risk. And it is a risk, after all. What new things might they learn? What changes might they need to make in their lives? The star brings them to Jesus. They open their treasures. They go back to their own country, richer for the encounter with God. The Gentile world shares in the blessings of Israel.

The question today is what about us? Where do we fit into the story? What risks are we willing to take? It is a risky business for us as well. Who knows what or whom we might encounter on the journey? Who knows what changes will have to be made in our lives? Who knows what God will reveal to us?

What we do know is that there are others on the journey. We are part of the body of Christ, travelling together following the star. There are many travellers on the road.

There are those who are just beginning the journey. They have felt a yearning in their hearts. They have begun the search. But they are not sure of the way. They are not yet strong in the faith. They have more questions than answers. They wonder how a God of love could permit the terrible things that happen in the world. How can people keep the faith in desperate times? How can there be a God when the world is in such at terrible state?

There are others who have been hurt by life. They have suffered loss or pain. They are questioning why bad things have happened to them. Why do they continue to suffer through no fault of their own? The way ahead is not clear. They struggle with faith.

There are others on the road who have overcome great obstacles. God has been revealed to them in a way that has made the way clear. They have a faith that sustains them. Their gifts and talents have been affirmed. They have found Jesus. God has been revealed to them in their lives. The way forward is clear.

There is one destination. The wonderful thing about being a part of the body of Christ is that we all travel together, the young and the old, those new to faith and those who have been on the journey throughout their whole lives. And on that journey we help one another. We encourage one another in the faith. We share what God reveals to us. We carry the light of Christ with us into the world.

Armed with new confidence and courage, our visit to the Bethlehem manger resolves into spiritual progress and growth in our lives. The light of God shines brightly through us. The glory of the lord is risen upon us. We face the New Year with a renewed sense of joy and commitment.