Epiphany: the Good News of Inclusion
January 3, 2010, Feast of Epiphany
Isaiah 60:1-3, 5-6 Ephesians 3:1-3 Matthew 2:1-12
First reading from Isaiah
Arise Jerusalem, and shine like the sun; the glory of the Lord is shining on you! The Gentiles will be covered by darkness, but on you the light of the Lord will shine; the brightness of His presence will be with you. The Gentiles shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance. The wealth of the Gentiles will be brought to you. Great caravans of camels shall come from Midian and Ephah. They will come from Sheba bringing gold and incense. People will tell the good news of what the Lord has done!
The word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Second reading from Ephesians
“I, Paul, the servant of Christ, am here in jail because of you – for preaching that you Gentiles are also a part of God’s household. No doubt you already know that God has given me this special task of showing God’s favor to you Gentile, as I briefly mentioned before in one of my letters. God Himself revealed to me this secret plan of His, hidden from former generations, that the Gentiles also are included in His kindness." (Eph 3:1-3)
The word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Alleluia, alleluia.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew
Glory to you, Lord.
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, astrologers from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.” Then Herod called the astrologers secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I, too, may go and do him homage.” After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Introduction
Epiphany: East and West
Introduction
Epiphany: East and West
The feast of Epiphany (a Greek word meaning `a manifestation’) brings the curtain down on the Advent/Christmas drama. In the Eastern Church, Epiphany focuses especially on the baptism of the Lord. That, indeed, was a heavenly manifestation. A voice from heaven pointed to Jesus and proclaimed, “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased.” (Mt 3: 17) On Epiphany the Eastern Church blesses water and baptizes its little ones.
In the Western Church, Epiphany focuses upon the adoration of the Magi. That, too, was a heavenly manifestation. Matthew writes that a star rose in the east and led the Magi (astrologers --star gazers) to a stable and pointed to an infant lying in a manger. There they offered the infant gifts of gold, incense and myrrh[1]. (Mt 2:11) Matthew is alluding to the words of Isaiah, “Great caravans of camels shall come from Midian and Ephah. They will come from Sheba bringing gold and incense.” (Is 60:6)
Tradition’s elaborations of Scripture
Scripture says that a star led astrologers from the East to an infant lying in a manger, where they presented him with gifts of gold, incense and myrrh. Tradition, however, has elaborated on the scripture. Though Matthew’s gospel doesn’t say how many astrologers there were, tradition eventually came up with three. Because Matthew adds a third gift of myrrh to Isaiah’s gifts of gold and incense, three astrologers were needed, each to carry one of the three gifts. (Mt 2:11, Is 60:6)
Tradition even gives the astrologers names: Melchior of Nubia, Caspar of Tarshish, and Baltazar of Chaldea. It also claims that the three astrologers represent three races: Baltasar was an Asian, Gaspar was a white European and Melchior was an African and therefore black. Tradition even claims that their remains were discovered in Persia, brought to Constantinople by St. Helena, transferred to Milan in the fifth century and finally to Cologne, Germany in 1163, where they are now the prized treasures of the Cologne Cathedral. Finally, it was medieval tradition which turned the astrologers into three very glitzy kings.
Tradition even gives the astrologers names: Melchior of Nubia, Caspar of Tarshish, and Baltazar of Chaldea. It also claims that the three astrologers represent three races: Baltasar was an Asian, Gaspar was a white European and Melchior was an African and therefore black. Tradition even claims that their remains were discovered in Persia, brought to Constantinople by St. Helena, transferred to Milan in the fifth century and finally to Cologne, Germany in 1163, where they are now the prized treasures of the Cologne Cathedral. Finally, it was medieval tradition which turned the astrologers into three very glitzy kings.
A cute little story?
Epiphany was a very emphasized feast before Vatican II. For one thing, it was an immovable feast; it was always celebrated on the 6th day of January.[2] Now the feast may be celebrated either on its old traditional date of January 6, or it may be moved to the Sunday after January 1.[3] What’s more, in the old days the feast enjoyed a `privileged octave;’ for eight straight days the Mass of Epiphany was repeated verbatim -- using the very same epistle, gospel, and prayers. After Vatican II, the feast lost its privileged octave. Perhaps the revisionist liturgists of Vatican II weren’t as wise as the wise men, and viewed Epiphany as not much more than just a cute little story of three kings wrapped in fine robes, visiting an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes.
The good news of inclusion
The medieval tradition which turned the astrologers into three glitzy kings from the East might delight the child in us, but it isn’t very profound. Nor is it very profound to simply debunk the story. More profound than glitzing or debunking the story is to go in search of its religious meaning. At the end of the day, the gospels are not historical documents; their aim is not to record history. The gospels are religious documents; their aim is to communicate religious meaning. And the religious meaning of Epiphany is the good news that God includes the Gentiles in His kindness.
Up until now, everyone in the Christmas drama is Jewish. Isaiah, the great prophet of Advent, is a Jew. All the main characters (Joseph and Mary, Zachary and Elizabeth, old Anna and Simeon in the temple) are Jews. The shepherds, though unwashed and unkempt, are also Jews. Even the angels singing “Glory to God in the highest” seems to be singing in Hebrew. The lead actor in the Christmas drama, the Messiah Himself, is for sure a Jew -- "a descendant of David according to the flesh." (Rom 1:3)
Up until now, everyone in the Christmas drama is Jewish. Isaiah, the great prophet of Advent, is a Jew. All the main characters (Joseph and Mary, Zachary and Elizabeth, old Anna and Simeon in the temple) are Jews. The shepherds, though unwashed and unkempt, are also Jews. Even the angels singing “Glory to God in the highest” seems to be singing in Hebrew. The lead actor in the Christmas drama, the Messiah Himself, is for sure a Jew -- "a descendant of David according to the flesh." (Rom 1:3)
Up until now something has been missing from the Christmas drama. The Gentiles are missing! The drama of universal salvation waits for the last act, and it comes with the arrival of Gentile astrologers. The story of a bright-shining star leading Gentiles into the Christmas drama is suffused with religious meaning. It bears tidings of good news that “Gentiles, too, are included in God’s kindness.[4]" (Eph 3:3) That, indeed, was shocking news for Jews who thought that they alone belonged to the household of God. Epiphany summons the Jews to move over and make room for Gentiles in God’s house. The drama which began on Christmas Eve with no room in the inn for the holy family (Lk 2:7), now ends with much room for everybody. The arrival of Gentile astrologers announces the same good news that Peter announced in Cornelius’ house “that God has no favorites but gives welcome to anyone of any nation who fears Him and does what is right.” (Acts 10:34-35)
Hiding the good news?
In Ephesians Paul writes that he’s in jail for preaching that Gentiles, too, are included in God’s kindness and belong to His household. The inclusion of Gentiles, Paul says, was “a secret plan, hidden from former generations” but revealed to him by God Himself. (Eph 3:3, 6) We are puzzled at the thought that God’s plan to include the Gentiles in His kindness was hidden from former generations. We wonder who hid that good news in the first place? Did God hide that good news from the Jews of old, or did they hide it from themselves? Why in the world would God want to hide the Good News of Inclusion?
The Jews of old scrupulously excluded Gentiles. They built exclusion right into their very Temple. A stone wall five feet tall (called the Separation Wall) divided the Temple’s outer court of the Gentiles from the inner court of the Jews. On the wall were attached xenophobic signs prohibiting any Gentile under the pain of death from going beyond the prescribed line.
By an ironic twist of fate Gentiles down through the centuries have doggedly excluded Jews from their kindness. That history has Shakespeare’s merchant of Venice complaining, “Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, senses, affections, passions? If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?” With the fires of Holocaust still burning in our minds, we ask who, indeed, hid the good news from the Nazis that not only German Gentiles but also German Jews were included in the kindness of God? Did God hide that good news from the Nazis, or did they hide it from themselves?
Today we ask who hides the good news that women in the church are also included in the kindness of God? Does God hide that good news from the church institution, or does a male-driven institution hide that good news from itself? Today we ask who hides the good news that gays are included in the kindness of God? Does God hide that good news from the religious right or from homophobes, or do they hide that good news from themselves?
On Christmas Eve the US Senate passed a bill that would provide affordable medical insurance to about 31 million legal U.S. residents who are now uninsured. The vote was strictly according to party lines: 60 Democrats voted for the bill, and 39 Republicans voted against it. Our two noble parties couldn’t find it within themselves to reach across the aisle and include each other in this historic bill. The spirit of exclusion is all pervasive: it weaves not only through religion but politics as well. And even in the arena of politics it has a religious dimension.
On Christmas Day Abdul Farouk Abdulmutallab, a 23-year-old Nigerian, tried to ignite the incendiary powder mixture he had taped to his leg, as Northwest Flight 253 began its final approach to Detroit. Who hid the good news from this Islamic extremists that Western infidels also are included in the kindness of Allah? Did Allah hide that good news from Abdulmutallab, or did he with help from radicalized Muslims hide it from himself?
All the great religious stories (whether Jewish, Christian or Islamic) need a last act, and all need the same last act! All need a Star of Epiphany to purify them not of their diversity, uniqueness, or quaintness but of their animus to exclude. Jews, Christians and Muslims need a Star of Epiphany suffusing them with a creative spirit which can find a way to include the other in the kindness of their God.
The Jews of old scrupulously excluded Gentiles. They built exclusion right into their very Temple. A stone wall five feet tall (called the Separation Wall) divided the Temple’s outer court of the Gentiles from the inner court of the Jews. On the wall were attached xenophobic signs prohibiting any Gentile under the pain of death from going beyond the prescribed line.
By an ironic twist of fate Gentiles down through the centuries have doggedly excluded Jews from their kindness. That history has Shakespeare’s merchant of Venice complaining, “Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, senses, affections, passions? If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?” With the fires of Holocaust still burning in our minds, we ask who, indeed, hid the good news from the Nazis that not only German Gentiles but also German Jews were included in the kindness of God? Did God hide that good news from the Nazis, or did they hide it from themselves?
Today we ask who hides the good news that women in the church are also included in the kindness of God? Does God hide that good news from the church institution, or does a male-driven institution hide that good news from itself? Today we ask who hides the good news that gays are included in the kindness of God? Does God hide that good news from the religious right or from homophobes, or do they hide that good news from themselves?
On Christmas Eve the US Senate passed a bill that would provide affordable medical insurance to about 31 million legal U.S. residents who are now uninsured. The vote was strictly according to party lines: 60 Democrats voted for the bill, and 39 Republicans voted against it. Our two noble parties couldn’t find it within themselves to reach across the aisle and include each other in this historic bill. The spirit of exclusion is all pervasive: it weaves not only through religion but politics as well. And even in the arena of politics it has a religious dimension.
On Christmas Day Abdul Farouk Abdulmutallab, a 23-year-old Nigerian, tried to ignite the incendiary powder mixture he had taped to his leg, as Northwest Flight 253 began its final approach to Detroit. Who hid the good news from this Islamic extremists that Western infidels also are included in the kindness of Allah? Did Allah hide that good news from Abdulmutallab, or did he with help from radicalized Muslims hide it from himself?
All the great religious stories (whether Jewish, Christian or Islamic) need a last act, and all need the same last act! All need a Star of Epiphany to purify them not of their diversity, uniqueness, or quaintness but of their animus to exclude. Jews, Christians and Muslims need a Star of Epiphany suffusing them with a creative spirit which can find a way to include the other in the kindness of their God.
Conclusion
The Christmas dismissal
A Christmas card of many years past bore a very meaningful dismissal of the Christmas season. A slightly updated version of it reads:
When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings have returned to their villas,
When the shepherds are back in their fields,
The real business of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To seek the path to peace,
And to worship a God
Who includes everyone in His kindness,
and Who asks us to do the same.
[1] Myrrh: a yellowish-brown to reddish-brown aromatic gum resin with a bitter slightly pungent taste obtained from a tree.
[2] The date of January 6 was fixed quite early in history
[3] The universal church celebrates Epiphany on January 6. In the USA it’s celebrated on the Sunday after January 1.
[4] Living Bible translation
[2] The date of January 6 was fixed quite early in history
[3] The universal church celebrates Epiphany on January 6. In the USA it’s celebrated on the Sunday after January 1.
[4] Living Bible translation
