A Sermon for the Epiphany 2013
Today is Epiphany! I know you are excited. Okay, maybe you’re not that excited yet. A lot of people aren’t even sure how to pronounce Epiphany, let alone get enthused about it. But I’m going to change all that. Yes, I’m going to help pump you up.
Epiphany means “manifestation” or “striking appearance” and it is the theological feast day, which celebrates the revelation of God’s son as a human being in the baby Jesus. In the season of Epiphany, we talk about the in-breaking of God’s light.
I bet you remember the 1970s Kool-Aid commercials in which a person in a pitcher costume would burst through the wall whenever kids called out for the sugary beverage. Though nostalgic and campy, this can be an image for the in-breaking of God’s light we celebrate at Epiphany. We’re languishing out here in our darkness, longing for help and God bursts through our prison walls to save us. God shines the light of love and forgiveness upon us and frees us. So we don’t need to be calling out “Hey Kool-Aid!” we should be calling out “Hey Jesus!” That’s what this day is about. He is revealed as the one who has the power to save us.
And today is Epiphany day. January 6th. It rarely falls right on a Sunday so unless there is a special service for Epiphany, we don’t even get to hear the story of the Magi in worship. Here in the West, we celebrate Epiphany with the story of the visitation of the Magi. You know, the wise men. They are drawn from the East to pay homage to the Christ child. It is an immense journey, requiring great commitment—perhaps even three years on camelback. Nevertheless, they make the arduous journey.
After following for ever so long, they see that the star has stopped over the place where the Christ child lay. And they get excited. In fact, the passage from Matthew says that they were: “overwhelmed with joy.” (Matthew 2:10). Overwhelmed with joy. That’s a lot of joy! How often are you overwhelmed with joy? Usually we are overwhelmed with busy work. Like you might say: “I’m overwhelmed with laundry,” or “I’m overwhelmed with paperwork to get my taxes prepared.” (Yeah, that’s right, it’s a new year so we should all get to work on our taxes). But anyway, how often do you say “I’m overwhelmed with joy?” When people around here say to you: “Hi. How are you?” We Midwesterners usually say something simple like. “Okay” or “Not too bad. Could be worse.” What if you responded to that question next time by putting a big grin on your face and saying: “I’m overwhelmed with joy!!” We who know Christ ought to be constantly overwhelmed with joy. So I think we need to practice that right now. Turn to the people next to you and ask how they’re doing. No boring responses like “Okay.” You’ve got to express your excitement—‘cause I know you’ve got it in you—and say you’re overwhelmed with joy. Ready? Go!
So after these ridiculously happy wise men see that the star has stopped, they follow it to the place where the Christ child is. Though we usually see the Magi in the nativity scene, this Gospel says they found Jesus in a house. So they must have arrived after Joseph and Mary found better accommodations than the stable. They go into the house and offer their precious gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the little Messiah. Now there’s a joke that goes: how do we know the Magi were men? Because women would have brought a baby more practical gifts like diapers, wet wipes and oneies. There’s another joke that claims there must have been another Magi who brought fruitcake, because at holiday time, somebody has to bring fruitcake!
Though gold, frankincense and myrrh don’t seem like normal baby shower gifts, they are precious gifts. They are extremely valuable and they are the kind of gifts you give a king. It shows that they do see Jesus as the newborn king and they want to show their utmost respect for him. And the really amazing thing is that the Magi are foreign Gentiles—they are not Jews or locals—and yet they and their gifts are accepted. This demonstrates that they who were once far off, are now embraced by the one true God who has sent a Savior into the world not just for a small select group, but for everyone. The manifestation of God is not just for us but for all people everywhere. This is an act of radical inclusivity on God’s part. No wonder the Magi were overwhelmed with joy!
Likewise, Paul reports in Ephesians that he has been given grace to “bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ.” (Ephesians 3:8) Just as Isaiah had foretold, nations shall come to God’s light. (Isaiah 60:3)
In this inclusive reality, everyone is welcome and so are their gifts. Just as the Magi showed respect for Christ with their finest gifts we can offer our gifts and talents to further the brightness of God’s dawn. Whatever we bring—no matter how simple—is accepted and used for a mighty purpose.
Erma Bombeck, the American humorist, once wrote: “When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me.” She has since passed away and I’m guessing that’s exactly what she said when she stood before God. What will we say when we stand before God at the end of our lives? That we used the gifts we’d been given? That there is not one bit left because we offered them all in service to the Lord? Or will we say: “Oh no, I was going to get around to offering my gifts but I was too busy doing other things.” Or maybe we’ll be even more dumbfounded and say: “What? I had gifts?”
The fact is, we all have gifts to share. We can care, we can listen, we can share the good news of Jesus. And we have each have specific gifts. Some of you can build, some can bake, some can heal, some can teach, some can build rockets and some just have a fabulous smile.
So right now, I want you to take that piece of paper you were given on your way in here and think about your own amazing set of gifts. Now I know this is Iowa and we’re really humble, so some of you might still try to claim a complete absence of gifts. Well, I’m not buying it and neither is God. You do have gifts and your set of gifts is unique to you. So think for a moment about some of these gifts. And I want you to jot a few of them down on your paper, then fold it up. This is just between you and God so feel free to brag. You’re made in God’s image, so I think God will be pleased to see you talking yourself up here. But these gifts, you see, are not just to win friends and look cool. They are to further the gospel. They are to help God break through to the world with light and love. And the truth is that offering our gifts to God’s service is fun. It helps you stay perpetually overwhelmed with joy!
When you finish writing, hold onto your paper of your gifts. Tuck it into your hymnal or pocket until we get to communion. Then, bring it up with you and as you pass the manger, place it into this box so that like the Magi, you’ll be offering your gifts to Jesus. This is a joyful Epiphany ritual. So as you drop it in, you are free to crack a smile. Amen.
