Readings for Christmas 2B/Epiphany:
Mt. 2:1-16, John 1:1
January 5, 2003
The Rev. Karen Siegfriedt
St. Jude the Apostle Episcopal Church, Cupertino,
CA
"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."(Jn.1) This well known verse from scripture begins the gospel reading that is usually assigned for Christmas Day and the following Sunday. It is called the Johannine prologue and is loaded with theology that could easily take a semester to uncover. Basically, it claims that God's communication began, not with the birth of Jesus, but from before the beginning of time. The first chapter in the book of Genesis claims that God first communicated God's self to the physical world through the act of creating the universe. It is this communication of God that many people experience when they are out in nature. As Anglicans, we particularly appreciate the physical realm and believe that we were created to enjoy it and care for it. God also communicates God self through dreams, feelings, and wisdom. God does not limit God’s communication to Christians. God has communicated through the Hebrew prophets and continues to speak through many other traditions of religion and wisdom. God communicates through some very unseemly people. And God can communicate through you and me.
At a particular time in history, God spoke God's word so strongly in the person of Jesus, that we say that God became incarnate in Jesus Christ. This means that the words, works, and spirit of Jesus were in unison with the words and works and spirit of God. Another way of pointing to this unity of mind and spirit is to use “churchy” language such as: Jesus is the son of God, the Word of God, the second person in the Trinity. Jesus showed the people of Israel what it means to be a human being created in the image of God. In his ministry and teachings, he pointed the way to God and said, "Come and follow me." Instead of following him, many put him on a pedestal and simply worshipped the Word of God instead of integrating the Word of God. The spirit of Christ, and the life of Jesus, is recorded in the Holy Scriptures, which Christians believe also contain the Word of God.
So as you can see, the Word of God (i.e. God's communication) includes many avenues. What I would like to do in this coming year, is to present the Word of God in all of its fullness so that we are moved to integrate and be converted by the Word of God rather than simply hear it. My hope is that by focusing on the fullness of the Word, we can move from our heads to our hearts- to that place where we are in full communion with God, in whom we live and move and have our being.
I am going to begin this year with focusing on the Word of God that is contained in our Holy Scriptures (i.e. the Bible). But I want to go deep. I am not satisfied (and neither should you be) with simply the telling of the biblical story. In the next several weeks, I want us to learn how to travel through the five layers of Scripture to that place where we may become still and be one with God. In this sermon and subsequent sermons, I will begin by telling the story. Then I will move to the second level which is the interpretation of scripture. The third level will address applying the scriptures to our daily life. The fourth level will involve integration and conversion. And finally, if it is your will and God’s will, the Holy Word will take you to that place of communion with God. How deep you go in this process depends on how willing you are to take the journey from the head to the heart.
In today's Epiphany story, some astrologers from the East, travel to Palestine. They are probably Persian priests from the Zoroastrian tradition. We don't know how many of them came, although Scripture tells us that they brought three gifts. In addition, we learn that they are wise men, interpreters of dreams, and are interested in the stars in the heavens. Having seen an unusually bright star appear and believing it to represent the birth of a king, they set out to Israel to pay homage to this new king. Being uncertain of the exact location, they confer with King Herod. King Herod freaks out, gathers his biblical scholars together, and tells the magi where the scriptures predict the messiah will be born. In return for this information, he wants the magi to return to him with the specific street address of this child. The magi realize that King Herod is up to no good. So after finding Jesus and paying homage to him, they return home by a different route.
Herod is duped and his paranoia takes over. He is fearful that he is going to lose his power and his kingdom. So he sends his henchmen into Bethlehem to kill all of the male children under the age of two. Just before the death squad arrives in Bethlehem, Joseph is warned in the dream to escape into Egypt. Jesus is saved while about 20-30 children are slaughtered. In our tradition, we remember this event as the feast day of the Holy Innocents. Well, that is the story in a nutshell. What does it all mean?
At the second level, is the interpretation Scripture. All Scripture needs to be interpreted. How it is interpreted depends on the interpreter. Conservatives tend to interpret with their mind set and liberals with theirs. But if the intention of interpretation is to make us more compassionate people, acting from a place of justice, forgiveness, generosity, inclusivity, and mercy, then we need to put aside our own prejudices and political agendas. When interpreting and preparing my sermons, I spend 50% of my time in prayer. Only then do I use the biblical commentaries and my own theological learnings.
Some commentaries would say that today’s Epiphany story is not historical. If you look at the gospel of Luke, Jesus in born in a manger with shepherds being the only ones visiting. In Luke, Joseph and the family travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem. There is no mention of the flight into Egypt or the slaughter of the innocents. However, in today’s gospel from Matthew, Jesus is depicted as being regal. The holy family is already living in Bethlehem and only later do they go to live in Nazareth. Jesus’ birth is discussed in the palace of King Herod. He is visited by important magi of the priestly cast and is offered gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Why are there such discrepancies between the two gospels? Is this story a myth?
The stories in the bible are different from objectifyable reporter’s language. They are stories past down from generation to generation and are written to tell of the relationship between God and God’s people. These stories are to support the faithful in their faith, not to give a detailed historical analysis. For instance, hundreds of years later, we sing about three kings from the Orient. However, the bible does not mention exactly how many astrologers came. Only that they brought three gifts. Stories are elaborated over time, but hopefully the spirit is retained. While there is no official Roman record of Herod destroying children in Bethlehem, such an act would hardly have been considered a major event to record. Herod was a very suspicious king, a murderous old man. If he suspected anyone as a rival to his power, that person was promptly eliminated. He murdered his wife and her mother and his three sons. At the time of his death, he gave orders to kill the most distinguished citizens of Jerusalem so that all of the people would be mournful when he died. So killing the holy innocents certainly reflects his character, even if it didn’t happen exactly that way.
When I interpret this story, three things stand out for me.
So how do we apply these insights of Scripture to our own lives? When we ask this question, we move into the third level. This story of the slaughter of the Holy Innocents reminds me that each day I wake up, 6000 children in the world do not. Instead, 6000 children die each day from hunger; not because there is not enough food in the world, but because human politics and greed does not allow for the proper distribution of food. This story reminds me that politics alone can not save us. There is corruption in every political institution. Only God can save us. This story makes me ask myself, what is it that keeps me from seeking the Christ in the least of my brothers and sisters? What do I need to do to change my schedule or life style so that I can see the Christ in more people? Finally, this story reminds me of the destructive power of fear and my need to uncover my fears and move through them.
At the fourth level, is the integration of the Word of God and conversion of the heart. At this level, we are required to ask many questions and to come to resolution. We need to bask in the spirit of God (not the spirit of fear) in order to become children of God. Instead of asking, “Did this story actually happen as it was recorded?”, we should ask instead, “Why do things like this happen?” What are the ethics and morality involved? How can we make things different? Why is the spiritual life important to this process? What do we need to do to overcome fear, support children in danger, and to reform our political process? What are we doing now that is alienating and what are the things that we have left undone? What is God telling us? It is this process that we undertake to become like Christ so that our wills are in unity with God’s will.
In spite of the fact that there were not three Kings, I am glad we have set up a manger at St. Jude’s to collect baby supplies for the poor people in San Jose. I am glad that we are teaching our children to care about these things even if it means that we dress them up like three kings. There is nothing we could have done to have stopped the massacre of children 2000 years ago. But there is still much we can do today to support the dignity of children in our midst.
Finally, at the fifth level, is communion with God. It is at this level that we have the least control. A life of prayer, of reading scripture, of compassion and generosity, are the best avenues for communion with God. It is at this level that we experience the fruit of a holy life. It is often referred to as the consolation. Once you have tasted its fruit, you will long to taste it again and again. “Almighty God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, on God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (BCP 214)
| Updated 1/5/03 |
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