Occasional Sermons

What in the world would have induced the Magi to embark upon the journey described in this morning’s gospel lesson? There were countless practical reasons not to. For one thing, the journey was a very long one – from Sheba to Bethlehem was hundreds of miles. And they could hardly hop on a plane. They had rather to hop on camels – slow moving beasts for such a distance. The journey could have taken them weeks, perhaps even months. For another thing, the journey was a very uncertain one. They didn’t know whether they’d find their way or even where, in particular, they were going. Moreover, there were few road or maps. They had but a star to guide them. A star. This meant too that travel by day was out of the question. They had to make their way by night. And too, the journey was fraught with perils -- the first and foremost being the peril of nature. They were at the mercy of wild animals, and indeed the Bible documents people being mauled by lions, bitten by snakes, and stung by scorpions. What’s more they were traveling through desert regions. They were at risk of dying of thirst, and again the Bible documents that this was not unheard of. And then there was the peril of wicked men, like King Herod. We know from the Bible as well as contemporary life that there is nothing more perilous than wicked men. Wicked men discern no morality and acknowledge no law – hence their depravity and cruelty and recklessness. Look what King Herod did, for instance, to the innocents of Bethlehem. He ordered them massacred lest they grow up to threaten his crown. And if these reasons weren’t enough for the Magi not to embark upon that journey, there are plenty more. Scholars still debate among themselves exactly who these Magi were – whether they were astrologists or wise men or kings or magicians. But whoever they were, they were not outlaws or desperadoes. They were men of considerable eminence. And men of eminence normally uphold the status quo. The status quo has profited them, after all. There was no profit to be had in risking the status quo, in rocking the boat over some gambit. Furthermore, they were not even the subjects of the King that they were seeking. Nothing of his reign would ever have the slightest effect upon them. Add to that that the rightful subjects of the King that they were seeking were not particularly fond of foreigners. If truth be told, they were downright xenophobic. The Magi weren’t particularly wanted in those parts. And so, let us return to the original question. What in the world would have induced the Magi to embark upon that journey? There were countless practical reasons for them not to. I have my own explanation. Could it be that somehow, someway, dimly, vaguely, the Magi perceived in that star a sign of the beckoning of God? For God is a God who beckons in signs – The manna, the quail, the blooming rod, the fleece, the still small voice, the babe wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger, the sign of Jonah. It may sound far-fetched, but I can think of now other plausible explanation for the Magi to embark upon that journey. And if this is true, friends, then it’s altogether possible that God beckons us in signs. It could be anything – a star, yes, or a rainbow. But too it could be a child in poverty, a stranger in need, a widow in mourning. It could be a lie we all know to be a lie. It could be a coincidence that we doubt is only a coincidence. It could be anything. As with the Magi, it is ours to perceive in the signs in our lives the beckoning of God; ours to perceive, and then ours to embark upon a journey. Of course, there are countless practical reasons not to. The journey could take a long time. It could take the rest of our lives. You know how it is with these things. Way leads on to way. You get to one horizon only to see another. It could be uncertain. We have no idea where we’ll end up – only the general direction we are heading. That’s not the best game plan for a journey. And of course, there are perils. The journey would probably lead us through dangerous terrain. Most journeys of any distance do. And then there are today’s Herods, hating the truth because it opposes and accuses them. And let’s face it, it’s pretty comfortable right where we are right now. There are countless practical reasons for us not to, but let’s return to the Magi for a moment. There was not one practical reason for them to embark upon that journey, and not one practical reason for them, at their journey’s end, to have felt, as they did, perfectly justified in having done so. After all, the “King” that they journeyed to behold was poor, lowly, wrapped in rags, and born to a peasant girl, who in other circumstances they would have taken no notice of. Yet, upon beholding that King, some strange truth broke in upon them; a strange truth about the nature of ultimate sovereignty, about the nature of ultimate power, about the nature of ultimate existence. They could scarcely have conceived the fullness of it, yet they felt its force fully enough to fall on their knees and pay homage to him and offer him gifts. They felt its force enough to steal away in defiance of King Herod and in allegiance to him. No doubt they left him changed men. No doubt too that they had no regrets about their journey. I guess it’s safe to conclude that the practical course is not always the best one. A New Year has now dawned upon us. I could say glibly or tritely it promises to be a great year, but this would not be right. It promises more realistically to be a challenging year. A challenging year for us, yes, with weather systems run amok, with political turmoil, with international tensions, with all the frets and fears and failures we all harbor and bear; but so much worse for so many others, especially those across the world those ravaged by violence and poverty. But our God will send signs to beckon us, and we must be vigilant to perceive them and courageous to embark upon impractical journeys, that through us in this coming year his way of truth, his way of justice, and his way of love is accomplished through us. This is the word of God for Epiphany. Amen.