Wednesday, January 5, 2022 – Epiphany (January 6)

“They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matthew 2:11, New Living Translation)             

                They’re late. They’re late. They’re late for a very important date!

                As much as we romantically entrench the arrival of the magi at the manger along with the shepherds on the very same night when Jesus was born, Matthew’s Gospel suggests otherwise. Why Mary and Joseph remained in Bethlehem after Jesus’ birth is hard to say. But they are now out of the stable and living in a house. Depending on how one interprets Herod’s heinous decision to slaughter children two and younger, it may point to the idea that Jesus himself was now one or two years of age.

                Sure, it had been a long, even arduous trip. It’s not like they were using a GPS app, but were following a star, perhaps not the most reliable source of directions as it is not available during the daylight hours. One might fault them, perhaps, that they were relying on the science of astronomy and the philosophy of astrology but they were doing the best they could with what they had and knew. Then there was that unnecessary detour into Jerusalem and we really don’t know how long that might have delayed them, but I doubt that it was just a night or two.

                The wise men were lagging way behind schedule. As they finally trudged into Bethlehem, they were almost late for Christmas. Like us, post-Christmas, the creche scene and the Christmas trimmings have been packed away, our homes put back to their normal arrangements, the last crumbs of Christmas baking swept away. What’s next – Valentine’s Day?

                But perhaps, what we need to admire here, if not emulate, is their stubborn determination to experience and celebrate the first Christmas no matter what, no matter when. They had come a long way,  had overcome many obstacles along the road, were vigilant in their star-gazing, remained open-minded about the outcome of their journey and finally, at long last, they made it just in time to find the One whom they were looking for, “the child who has been born king of the Jews.”  One might even wonder why  a king of the Jews would matter to foreigners and non-believers, but there they were on bended knees full of wonder, faith and devotion. Proving, I think, that it is never too late to experience the Good News of Jesus Christ.

                Christmas has come and gone, and perhaps it seemed like a whirlwind, or was exhausting, or was challenging because of Covid or the myriad things that needed to be get done. Perhaps, not everything was done as well as one had hoped. Perhaps, there were things that sidetracked us from its joy and hope. Perhaps, we had to deal with things that were beyond our control. I pray that you had a perfect Christmas but if you didn’t, the magi give us hope.

                We may not find the babe in a manger, but that is not the point really. The point is to find Jesus Christ in this very moment, in the present in which we live right now, in the life we  have right now. It is never too late to do that.

                I’m aware of the many times throughout the Gospels that people, just like the magi,  sought out Jesus to have him change their lives, to make things better, to transform and re-energize and raise up the humanity with which they found and met him. All sorts of people, rich and poor, Jews, Samaritans, Gentiles, Roman soldiers, lepers and the list goes on. He welcomes them all. He was easy enough to find as he walked among them. Each encounter revealed its own epiphany, a life-changing discovery of Jesus.

                So, don’t give up seeking Jesus. It’s never too late. Slow down even. Read a scripture passage, say a prayer, take a deep breath, meditate, open your eyes to nature, listen for the wee, small voices of love, hope, joy and peace that break through the cacophony of the world. For Christmas is found in all of this and so much more, even still.

                Let us go – even now – unto Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass.

 Dale