the wise still seek him

The wise still seek him – and they still come bearing gifts. They bring to the Christ Child the symbols of his glory: gifts for royalty, for priesthood, for martyrdom. “Gold for the King, frankincense for the priest, myrrh for the sacrifice.” And what they bring is still less than what they receive, and being wise, they know it.

That is why they come: because here at the feet of the Christ Child they are in the presence of a mystery greater than any king, any priest, any martyr, any prophet. They are in the presence of the living God.

In Jesus the fullness of God is pleased to dwell.

In Christ we are ourselves invited to dwell: to live in his kingdom as he has come to live among us, as one of us.

Today we are invited to kneel with the wise at the feet of the Christ. We bear our gifts: our selves. We stand like them in the presence of the living One.

Isaiah 9:2,6

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Shown to us by the leading of a star, or some less likely light, we too travel from afar to be at this manger side. We too have been chosen to receive the gift of his Light, and to reveal to the World his Word.

Matthew concludes his gospel:

[And] Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (28: 18-20)

Each of us is called to witness, each of us is called to serve; but first, each of us is called to worship: to adore, at the side of this little bed, in the smallest of miracles, that quietest of triumphs, the living God present among us in the form of a human being like ourselves.

With no trappings of glory other than those he receives from us – and from us he is more likely to receive, inevitably, a crown of thorns – he yet comes to us, bringing to us Light and Life and Hope.

Seeing the star in the east, the wise ones sought the holy One of Israel: and they followed the star. And they found him. We can do no less. And no less will we receive, in word and sacrament and through his Spirit, the gifts of him whom they sought.




Epiphany • 2008 January 6 • Isaiah 60:1-6 • Psalm 72:1-7,10-14 • Ephesians 3:1-12 • Matthew 2:1-12