In the Christian Church we celebrate a feast day called ‘Epiphany’. This is known as the day that Jesus was revealed to the gentiles; it’s the day that the three Wisemen (in some translations they are referred to as ‘astrologers’) sent by King Herod, found Jesus and gave gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Over the last few years I’ve been thinking about the importance of telling this part of the story – not about the gifts, but about the search for Jesus, and how it relates to people in this generation. I find it interesting that it took a request by King Herod to set the astrologers/Wise Men on a journey to find Jesus. You see, King Herod told the astrologers/Wise Men that he wanted to pay homage to Jesus. Once they found Jesus though, they were warned in a dream to not tell Herod where Jesus was. Why? as you continue in the reading the gospel you learn it’s because King Herod had lied to the astrologers/Wise Men – he didn’t want to pay homage to Jesus – he wanted to kill Jesus because he wanted everyone to pay homage to himself. Perhaps that’s why we call the astrologers Wise Men – there were wise enough not to report back to Herod.
Today – we no longer search for Jesus in the flesh – but we still seek Jesus, don’t we? Wise Men still follow Him and people still send their friends, family and acquaintances to search for God’s Peace, Love and Grace through Jesus Christ.
And it makes me wonder what sets people on a faith finding journey towards Jesus these days? Who sends people on a search to find Jesus and why do they encourage a search be made? And how do we recommend people to set out on that journey? What tools do we give them? Certainly we aren’t sending them to follow stars . . . Sometimes we send them to church, sometimes we send them to a concert, sometimes we send them to a conference or a retreat, sometimes we send them to a Priest or Pastor or Minister . . . Sometimes, we give them a copy of a Bible and a devotional or a prayer book. Sometimes we go with them to church, concerts, bible studies, conferences, retreats, sometimes we ask them to come to lunch or dinner where the Priest, Pastor or Minister may be.
When did you find the love of God through Jesus? Who got you there? Where was it?
Who do know that you wish was seeking for God’s peace, love and grace through Jesus?
Where will you send them or where will you go with them?
Finally – are you able to see the Christ child, Jesus, in the people you meet? Can you help them to see the Jesus in themselves? Can you help them find the ‘Jesus people’ who fed them, who clothed them, who gave them a home? Can you help them find a way to be like Jesus was as a child and read and discuss the Scriptures with other people who have knowledge and who may gain some insight by their company? Can you help them recognize the ‘Jesus people’ who have prayed for them, who have healed them, who have ‘called’ them to be a follower?
When and where and through whom has Jesus been revealed to you? When did you meet him again, as if it were for the first time? Maybe you’ve forgotten? An excellent book to read is ‘Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: The Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faith” by Marcus Borg.
Praying we all have a blessed Epiphany wherever we are – may we seek and see Jesus in the lives of those we are with.
– June
