OPPOSITES
Rev. Barry W. Szymanski, J.D.
First Congregational Church of Wauwatosa
Minister of Pastoral Care
January 2, 2011

THE GOSPEL

Matthew 2:1-12

The Visit of the Wise Men

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’

When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.

They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: “And you, Bethlehem, in the land ofJudah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my peopleIsrael.” Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared.

Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.’ When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was.

When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

THE SERMON

We began the liturgy this morning with powerful words from Isaiah: "Arise, shine: for your light has come." The Psalmist is on the same track: "May the kings of Tarshish, Sheba and Seba bring gifts."

Matthew's Gospel tells us of wise men, often called kings, and also called magi. Magi were priestly astrologers. We don't know how many they were, but we are told that they brought three gifts. Tradition names them as Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. They came from somewhere in the East.

What we do know is that they were inquisitive. They were searchers. In today' world they would be reporters for the newspapers like the Enquirer – individuals curious about life and what the future might bring. They were brave men; they were not afraid of what they might discover.

They probably knew of the prophecy of Balaam, recorded in the Book of Numbers, which is one of the five Books of the Torah: "I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near — a star shall come out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall rise out of Israel; "Numbers 24:17a.

Many here may have seen the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit at the Milwaukee Public Museum. In two of the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Damascus Document 7:18-21 and in Testimonia 9-13, there is also mention of a messianic deliverer.

These magi may have known of those prophecies. They were probing and bold; courageous not just because of the dangers of travel, but daring because they were willing to accept whatever, and whoever they discovered in their inquiring journey.

So, on one side of this Gospel story we have people who are puzzled about a star – and they are seeking an answer. On the opposite side of this Gospel story we have people who are not curious; rather, they are worried. Once the Magi ask about a newborn who is to somehow have ruling authority and power, this other group becomes anxious – upset if you will. And, as you already know, murderous!

Herod and his associates were scared. Herod was petrified that his supremacy could be questioned. The chief priests were distraught when they learned of a new threat to their power. The scribes became nervous about losing their authority. Through history we know that Herod was a ruthless king. He had gained his power from Rome by currying their favor.

He murdered his own wife, several of his sons, and some of his relatives, all because he thought they might take his throne – a throne he held only because of Roman power. He built many fortresses: at Herodium, Macherus, Sebaste, Masada, and Caesarea Maritima, and maintained a fortress in Jerusalem.

When the wise men came to Herod, and his fellows in political power, they recalled the prophecy from the prophet Micah 5:2: “And you, Bethlehem, in the land ofJudah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.”

For Herod, who had already killed his own wife and sons in order to remain in power, being told that a new ruler was to come was more than troubling, it was appalling to him.

Remember the history of the David line of succession in the Old Testament? Herod was not of that line. And he knew the people hated him. He was, as we know from the story of his sending soldiers to kill infants, in a homicidal mood once he heard of a possible breach of his power. But not just Herod, but also his political and religious cronies were frightened.

Before the Magi came, Herod and his partners were contented. Change was not what they desired. Their secular power from Rome made them wealthy/which gave them dominance over the people by sacred means also.

So, on one side we have their brutal power, and on the opposite side we have the infant Jesus, who has only a shepherd's power. Look at the Book of Micah closely and we find the prophecy that this new ruler would "shepherd" God's people.

Herod, the scribes, and the priests knew of shepherding in the spiritual sense. There are a lot of passages in the Old Testament clearly stating what a shepherd is to be for the people. Here, for example, is one passage: This is from the prophet Ezekiel 34:11-12,14,16: "For thus says the Lord God: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. I will feed them with good pasture . . ./the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed [my sheep] with justice."

The last thing that Herod and his priestly buddies wanted was justice. They knew that if there was justice, they would be out of office, if not in jail. Herod would be facing the death penalty! So, a ruler who was a just shepherd was to be feared.

Consider what the Magi were seeking. They only met the infant Jesus. We, over 2,000 years later have learned who they were seeking; and we have the ability to know and love who they were seeking – the resurrected Christ! Through Jesus we have, as Paul says, knowledge of our salvation.

We have, as Jesus told Peter, continual forgiveness of our sinful separations from God. Let us, then, not be like Herod and his ilk / who were so comfortable in their lives that they were willing to do anything not to have their power disturbed. Rather, let us bravely join the caravan of those who seek wisdom. Let us unite with all of the wise women and men over the centuries who seek paths that lead to God.

Let us be seekers also. Let us not be afraid like Herod and his buddies for history has shown that no matter what they, or people like them, do, God's plan always wins!

A theologian, Charles Gore, wrote, "The incarnation opened heaven, for it was the revelation of the Word; but it also reconsecrated earth, for the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us." Lux Mundi.

A lay preacher, Han Nielsen Hauge, in his autobiographical writings, wrote about his discovering, one day, "nothing in this world was worthy of any regard. That my soul experience something supernatural, divine, and blessed . . . . And it is now nearly twenty years since the love of God visited me so abundantly. . . ." [The Lord revealed to me that] "You shall confess My name before the people; exhort them to repent and seek Me while I may be found and call upon Me while I am near; and touch their hearts that they may turn from darkness to light."

What Hans Hauge experienced is what the Magi may have experienced – and the shepherds, then the apostles and disciples, and all of us disciples since. The Lord is near, and we turn to the Light of God. While Herod and his cronies remained in fear, in murder, in the darkness.

Prayer for January 2, 2011 - Epiphany

Lord, the star showed your only Son to the peoples of the earth: mercifully grant that we, who know you now by faith, will lead us to your glory in heaven by the light of faith. Now, on this earth, we come to seek Your light. We come in hope, each of us on our own life’s journey - traveling through times of loneliness and fear,

through heartbreak and anger,

through grief and loss,

through economic uncertainty,

through fear for loved ones caught up in war,

through our own private crises,

through the changes in our lives,

We come in hope on a journey of joys and sorrows. We come as the magi came to you: to seek Your light. Yet, Lord God, we often are like that King, Herod. We often tremble in fear at the rising of Your light. We often are afraid that your light may show Your truth – the truth we may rather not see – for it may be threatening to us. Like Herod, we fear that the harm we do to secure our own power. Lord, let us, instead, like the magi, trust in your light. O God, by the leading of a star you revealed your Son Jesus Christ to the gentiles; grant that this, your Church, FCC, may be a light to our community, our state, and that your universal church may be a light to all of the nations, so that the Wauwatosa, Milwaukee, Brookfield, and all of our communities may come to see the splendour of your glory. We pray this through Jesus Christ, Amen.