Matthew 2:1-12 Join the Party !
Epiphany Sermon January 6, 2008: People's United Church of Christ, Dover, DE: The Rev. Dan Griggs
"Wise men": not philosophers but "magi," which is related to the word "magic." They were astrologers—a respected spiritual identity in the first century. This story of Gentile astrologers' coming to offer worship to the new-born Messiah of God is like a magnet that attracts everything: it's related to the purpose of God to show the Messiah to the whole world; it hints at the relation of Christianity to other religions; there is a political angle; and it looks forward to the inclusion of the Gentiles in the church—there's a lot going on in this story; but I want to focus on one little thing in this story that can open the door for the rest: verse 10—
When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.
But let's take the story as it unfolds. The magi as a class of astrologers had a working relationship with their king—in the East, that is, the Persian Empire out beyond the borders of Roman conquest—what is now Iran. Persia was to Rome like the Soviet Union was to the United States. Some among the magi were counselors to the Persian king, so they knew how to talk to power; but they were in Roman territory now, and the king they had to deal with was Herod, who had grown up in the courts of Rome and played politics on the grand scale to get himself made king of Judea—he wasn't even a Jew. Herod was also not a nice person! In his will he divided his kingdom among his four sons, because he didn't want any of them to be as powerful as he had been. And when Herod died, his soldiers killed a number of leaders in Jerusalem, because (he said) he wanted mourning during his funeral. What Herod intended to do to Jesus became clear when the army slaughtered all the children in Bethlehem—this was typical of the way Herod the Great conducted his reign. So we begin to understand why our text says:
When Herod heard [what the magi were saying], he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him.
"All Jerusalem," because nobody knew what a king like this would do if he were frightened. This was the king the magi had to deal with: raw power, without a conscience, bent on his own glory. He knows they are talking about the Messiah, and he tries to kill him anyway! But the magi were savvy about the way of kings and had no illusions about this one. They bent to his will while they were under his power, and when they were free they "left for their own country by another road." I don't blame them!
Matthew says that "When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy." This is important. The pilgrimage that the magi meant to make was not to Herod, nor to fulfill Herod's intentions: it was a pilgrimage fulfilled in joy. And the reason the Gospel of Matthew tells us about it is this: THE MAGI INVITE YOU TO A PARTY !
A party? You bet. They get all dressed up. They bring presents. They go into the house and stay awhile. But they've come to see a baby and his mother: it could be a baby shower. The gifts they give are practical—they will finance his flight into Egypt: maybe it's a birthday party. It has been as much as two years since Jesus' birth—they go to a house, not the stable; so we may expect other people to be there and to join in the celebration. In the ancient Middle East when visitors came calling, it was important to make them welcome, serve food, provide for their comfort. It's a party! And Matthew invites you: THE MAGI INVITE YOU TO A PARTY !
It's a wise church that lives by the rule, "Never miss an opportunity to have a party." After all, you know people who live like this, don't you? I do. I have a cousin in Knoxville, Peg, who is a party-person—or used to be when she was able to. She was always ready, at the drop of a hat, to entertain. There was always some good wine in the rack, and food she could thaw out quickly and serve. And if you went to Peg's house for dinner it was always a feast, with foods prepared in new and interesting ways. Her house sits on a hill overlooking a river; and she has a grand picture window and comfortable seating, room to walk around and plenty of conversation-pieces, a fireplace and a stereo system: just add people and stir. You never knew who was going to drop by—maybe a local television personality. She knew how to host a party.
There are churches like that, too: "Never miss an opportunity to have a party." Parties are about something—a wedding, a birthday, a baptism, graduation, starting a new project, welcoming new neighbors, a holiday. But churches don't have to wait for high occasions: they can celebrate just being together—like a Women's Fellowship meeting at somebody's house. And have you ever been to a choir rehearsal? They work hard, but every rehearsal is also a party!
Parties open the door for us to discover the difference between what God is doing in Bethlehem and what Herod is doing in Jerusalem, and we're invited to walk through that door and join the party. Or, put another way—the actual pilgrimage of the magi, the pilgrimage they meant to go on, is fulfilled in joy, in contrast to Herod's intentions. THE MAGI INVITE YOU TO A PARTY.
Now why is this important? Today, January 6, is the Feast of the Epiphany in the church's calendar. Epiphany is the day the church celebrates God's public showing of the Christ to all the world—that's what "epiphany" means—"the showing forth." Today things stop happening in private—visions to shepherds, Joseph's dream, the birth in a stable. Today the secret is out—the secret about God's joyful purpose to reach out to the whole world with grace and hope and redemption.
How does God undertake to show the world this Messiah? Well, God showed some Persian astrologers a new star—something everybody could see—and invited them to a party, a "coming out" party. And the magi at the party are representatives of all non-Jews, all people whose religious heritage is not that of the Hebrews: in other words, they represent us. And God is saying: "Here is my Son, whom I give to you for all eternity, to call you out of whatever Persia or Iran you may be living in, to come sit with me at my banquet—the grand party I'm planning for the end of all this." And they go and see the Messiah: he is "shown forth." THE MAGI INVITE YOU TO A PARTY.
So: let's go to the party. Our going is really part of our spiritual journey through life. You may remember that during Advent I talked about the church's year (Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost): the church's devotional calendar. If you follow the story week by week, you begin to realize that you are living the story of Jesus. Many people have found it helpful to pay attention to this year-long living through the life of Christ, to learn from his deeds, to be inspired by his words, as we go. This is a powerful spiritual discipline, because we begin to realize that the "seasons of our lives" as individuals can be understood Christianly, too. The life of Christ makes sense of my experiences of life: I am beginning—Advent; I am expanding my world—Epiphany; I am taking responsibility for my mistakes—Lent; I am receiving forgiveness—Easter; I am sharing myself with others—Pentecost. The words and deeds of the Redeemer through those "seasons" can sustain me as I go through my own "seasons." That's one way we can go to the party the magi are inviting us to—the spiritual disciplines.
Another way to respond to their invitation is the party itself: Blessed is the church that never misses an opportunity to have a party! Women's Fellowship meetings, spaghetti dinners, coffee hours, new member dinners, Lenten suppers, monthly food and learning times, potluck suppers. What I'm talking about is wrapped up in that old church word "fellowship": it's true that "the family that prays together stays together," but it's equally true that the family that is only serious together and never plays together is a pretty dull house. So in the year we are just beginning, I challenge us together as a church to amplify our "fellowship": never miss an opportunity to have a party. We'll be doing just what the magi did: "When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy."
Since the joy was not just for themselves, so also the joy we share is not just for ourselves either: it's a joy to share. Hospitality flows from the party. People's Church is an inviting church, a place of hospitality where you're never just a visitor—you're our guest, soon our friend. We reach out into the community, and we reach out to people in military service, and we reach out to the children of Iran, to Liberian refugees, to the hungry of our community. The High Table of memory and hope is spread today: all are welcome.
THE MAGI INVITE YOU TO A PARTY! The actual pilgrimage they were intending to be on was not to meet Herod, it was to find "the new-born king." And "when they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy." And you are invited.
AMEN
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