“Epiphany” means to make visible. And so this day we celebrate the revelation of God's self in the birth of a vulnerable and seemingly ordinary child.
Magi come from the East, most likely Zoroasterans from Persia and perhaps beyond, seeking one whom they understand as the manifestation of God's real presence.
We name them as three kings because of the three gifts that they bring: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And the poets who give us our Epiphany hymns give us meanings to associate with these gifts. Gold is for the king, frankincense is the gift for a God, and myrrh, with its associations with the anointing of the dead, foreshadows sacrifice.
The ancient world up into Common Era had a long history of incarnate gods.
The Pharaohs of Egypt, for example, were considered to be representatives of the Sun God. Israel's neighbours often had divine kings. We see the Ceasars of Rome grew more and more infatuated with the praise and adoration associated with human regard for the Divine.
And so at this particular moment in history; in this very peculiar place, God comes to humans as a vulnerable, ordinary child. You recall that the Magi go first to Herod's palace. It was the natural place to look.
Of course, being a man who loves his privilege, Herod becomes quite concerned and has the scribes search the Scriptures for an indication of the long-promised Messiah. This news is a very real threat to Herod because he knows that he is not a true king of Israel – familial connections, timing, and political liaisons have granted him power and prestige. And, we see after he has sent the Magi off to locate the newborn king, nothing will stop him from trying to destroy anyone who threatens his security. His power over others is displayed in a horrific echo of the genocide of young males which had been practiced in Egypt centuries before—
Kings of the ancient world used Divinity as an excuse to exert the power of life and death over others.
With the Incarnate Divinity status of the Ceasars, first implemented to assure a unifying factor within the Empire, degenerating into abuses and megalomania, we discover a profound foil to the Lordship of Christ.
Born into a nation that never had any true Sovereign save God, Jesus knew that an earthly king was a Shepherd of the people: someone who gave guidance and provided protection. The true Shepherd risked his own life to save others from destruction. Even the great shepherd king, David, who began so faithfully, got caught up in the intrigues of power.
God had to come among us to show us the profound connection between God and King and Sacrifice.
The vulnerability of God, if you will, is a chosen vulnerability, a self-limiting act and therefore not a display of weakness...
the vulnerability of God has been demonstrated in God's gift of granting humans free will.
We can choose whether we will love God or reject God. We can allow circumstances to destroy our faith or enhance it. Understanding the complexity of the human person, embodied spirit, emotion and intellect-- God comes to us to show us the power of vulnerability, precisely because it alone allows for the possibilities of love and forgiveness. And knowing our fragility, God gives us God's very self each time we take these gifts of bread, and the cup of salvation.
What looked like sacrifice to a world steeped in the culture of sacrifice was in fact the faithful act of the incarnate God moving through death into new life. God knows that death is not the final answer. God, the Creator of the universe, loves life and creating. How could everything end in nothingness?!
Perhaps we can not fully comprehend the fear that first drove people to offer sacrifices. What we do know is this, there has been an evolution of the practice of sacrifice. Where once one's child was sacrificed, and then animals were substituted; Where once and for all time, Jesus was named the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, we are now invited to offer our sacrifices of thanks and praise.
In the face of loss; in days of perplexing distress with warfare threatening to break out around us, can you offer God your gratitude and praise? Are you able to trust somehow that these simple elements of bread and the fruit of the vine will renew your union with God, giving you strength and hope for the living of your days?
Take, eat;
drink of the cup.
Trust in the overwhelming love of Christ and the curious wisdom of God.
