The Feast of the Epiphany
Year A

By the Rev. Ann M. Smith

Based on the Gospel reading: Matthew 2:1-12

Ancient peoples studied the stars. They noted their movement in the night sky. They watched for new stars appearing in the heavens and linked them to historical events. Legends arose about many famous people. Astral phenomena were recorded at the births of Abraham, Pliny, Alexander the Great, Mithras and many others.

Matthew tells us that a star appeared foretelling a child born king of the Jews. Its appearance was noted by wise men from the East. They were seekers, these Magi, searching for something, for someone. You do not scan the sky night after night unless you are searching. They were hoping for something new and wonderful. They packed their luggage, saddled their camels and followed the star. It was not an easy journey. It was a struggle, the journey long and tedious. They slept by day. By night they scanned the skies. They had no exact directions; they simply followed a pinpoint of light in a dark sky. It was a journey fraught with difficulties. But they followed the star through the dark nights and they met Christ. God, the God of Israel was revealed to the world.

It is difficult in our urban setting to even see the stars, never mind to follow them. Unless we are blessed by living far out in the country, we seldom see the stars in their true glory any more, because we are surrounded by cities whose lights hide the stars from our view. When we are out in the country at night, we look up and see ourselves surrounded by a heavenly host of stars. Their splendour is so great that it almost takes our breath away.

This is the darkest time of year, a time when one can see the stars with more clarity. One star in particular gives hope to us and to our faltering world. It leads to something significant. In following the star, the magi blazed a trail for us to follow. It is a trail that leads in new directions, in new ways of relating to God. It is our life work as Christians to search for the whereabouts of Christ in every situation, to see Christ in everyone we meet.

Isaiah was such a trailblazer. He called the people of Israel to take heart, for God comes like light in the midst of darkness and transforms the world. What hope that brought to people who had long been exiled from their homeland! The Israel they had returned to was poor and shabby, a pale shadow of its former greatness. But God, Isaiah assured them, had not abandoned them. New blessings would transform Israel. Isaiah saw his nation possessing such light that others could not help but be drawn to it.

As Christians, we hear the readings in the context of the salvation God offers us in the birth of Christ. 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. Just as the star of Bethlehem drew the magi towards the Christ Child, so that light shines out to each of us. It beckons. It draws all of humanity towards it.

Where does the star of Bethlehem take me? Am I willing to follow the star wherever it may lead me? Do I track it through the city streets? Do I follow the star into my work place, into the park or the mall? Do I follow it as it stops over the widow, the immigrant, the young mother looking after her small children? Does it take me past the grandfather leaning on his cane, the aboriginal, the person in the wheelchair? Do I journey with them in the search for Christ? Do I help them on their journey to hope?

There are many legends about the magi. One is that they were three different ages. They went into the cave one at a time. They each met someone their own age. Melchior met an old man who spoke to him of memory and gratitude. Balthazar met a middle-aged teacher who talked of leadership and responsibility. Gaspar met a young prophet who spoke words of reform and promise. Afterward they entered the cave together and met a baby twelve days old.

The message of Christ speaks to us at every stage of our life. It continues to reveal itself to us as we grow in faith and maturity. To find Christ at any stage in our lives is to find ourselves. Yet when we enter together we find a deeper truth, the fact that we are all children of God.

Epiphany is a feast of hope. The greatest hope comes from the discovery that we are not alone in our quest. We journey together. We encourage one another. Where I am weak you encourage me. When you encounter difficulties on the journey I reach out to you. On our journey together are teenagers and octogenarians. We have teachers, doctors and lawyers. We have office workers and factory workers. We have single people, married people, people who have been divorced. We have the rich and we have the poor. We have people who are good, and people who, truth to tell, leave much to be desired.

And yes! We are all following the same star. And we will follow the star until it stops. And there we will look into the face of the Messiah.