January 8, 2012
Epiphany Sunday
Matthew 2:1-12

Dear Friends in Christ,

This joyous season of Christmas and Epiphany has a dark side, as some among us know all too well. If, for example, you used a lot of plastic to support your holiday observances and now the inevitable cloud of monthly statements descends on you, then you already know a small corner of that darkness.

It’s been that way from the beginning, as we learn today from our text in Matthew. At the start of that familiar story about the Magi we heard the clue. Jesus was born, and the Wise Men came “during the time of King Herod.” Yes, that Herod, the one about whom the Romans joked, far safer to be Herod’s pig than one of his sons. We remember the trouble that resulted from the Magi’s visit. The price of their coming to worship included the blood of every male child in and around Bethlehem – except, of course, for Jesus’ blood – and God knows how many tears and how much anguish came from the fathers and mothers of those babies.

The star that brought the Magi to Jerusalem and ultimately to Bethlehem shined its light in a world of darkness, jealously, hatred, cruelty, and terror. And it all happened…

“DURING THE TIME OF KING HEROD”

This point in the world’s history was a time that the true light was coming into the world. But this light was coming into the darkness and as John said, “the darkness did not understand it.” Herod is part of that darkness. His ruthless acts against his people and family have been well documented.

You don’t get to be King without some smarts. He had some wisdom. He was going to outsmart the Magi so that his plan of darkness could continue.

Kim Drake of Louisville, Kentucky tells the story about her mother who was getting swamped with calls from strangers. The reason? A medical billing service had launched an 800 number that was identical to hers. When she called to complain, they told her to get a new number. “I’ve had mine for twenty years,” she pleaded. “Couldn’t you change yours?”

They refused. So Mom said, “Fine. From now on I’m going to tell everyone who calls that their bill is paid in full.” The company got a new number the next day.

This lady was able to outsmart a large company. She used her wisdom to get them to change. Herod thought he was taking this path with the Magi. We could say he had wisdom. It was misguided wisdom – but it was wisdom. What Herod didn’t count on was that there was someone smarter than he was. His Creator knew what he was up to so he sent the Magi back home by another route and they did not return to Herod and they did not report where Jesus was. All of this during the time of King Herod.

We live, and our babies are born, during the time of King Herod as well. His rule of fear and darkness is everywhere about us. It’s far away, in places where onetime victims get vengeance on their vanquished persecutors, or other cowardly types wreak violence and havoc merely to keep peace from coming if it is a peace whose terms don’t vindicate them.

Herod rules nearby as well – in our homes, among our extended families, in our places of work. Only you know what kind of traps you laid or time-delayed poisons you set forth in some of the things you said and did in this holiday season. The reign of fear, the lust for vengeance, and dreams of delicious vindication are everywhere.

Indeed, even those of us whom our Lord and Teacher called “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” are part of the darkness as well. Under cover of darkness we, too, work for Herod.

Looking forward during the time of King Herod we see a Lamb of the flock come into Jerusalem, just as the Magi had done many years before. This Lamb lays himself down on the altar in voluntary sacrifice on behalf of the people. A humble King who rode in on his donkey becomes the Servant of all so everyone else is free for giving thanks. Yes, this time the Bethlehem Child who had escaped the first Herod falls victim to the reign of another.

This Child is our Star, the Scepter rising over us. Into Him we are baptized. We share in his rule by first dying his death here in the time of King Herod, Queen Fear, and Prince Selfishness.

We have seen his star, a true light that shines in the darkness, and it doesn’t require loading anyone else onto the first truck out to the place of gnashing teeth. That star shines here, in our midst. Surely you have seen it other places, too, as you have traversed all over Herod’s kingdom since we last met.

It shines in our midst, because this Child, who escaped the first Herod only to die at the hands of the second, works something of the reverse in us. We die with him so we might escape the deadly rule of the next Herod, and instead of giving in to the darkness, we walk the way of Christ. Christ’s Spirit works in us the gift of bringing light. Where there is hatred, we speak the language of forgiveness and love. Where there is jealously, we respond in generosity. Where there is fear and loneliness, we seek and find the courage to be signs of hope.

We bring our gold and frankincense, say our prayers, and share the bread and cup. Then, later today we’ll go home by another way, a road that Herod doesn’t know, to bring the light of our Lord’s Epiphany to some of the places it hasn’t shined in for awhile.

               Amen.

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