The Epiphany of our Lord
I saw a picture recently in social media, of three men and women in battle fatigues scrambling across ruined buildings with torches searching out and finding in the dark night, a mother and a new born baby. The torchlight revealing a crumpled, weary young woman holding tight a small baby, keeping safe in a ruined bomb shelter, while bombs were dropped on the city. The context of the picture was likely intended to remind us of Ukraine or Gaza or Sudan, but it could have been anywhere in our world today, where war and terror have laid waste and all that was known is now unrecognisable.
Two thousand years on, Herod’s terrible destructiveness continues to be repeated over and over again by fearful leaders determined to hold onto power and control others at all costs. Those who walk in darkness see to keep the Light at bay. We know the Messiah is not yet known to all the world.
The name of this picture was ‘The Epiphany’. A miracle has been seen, God is found unexpectedly among all the destruction, death and terror as a new baby has been born. In spite of the devastation, ordinary people have smiles on their faces as they find hope and a reason to be joyful and praise God. We too, come in our dreams and in our lives, to worship the new born baby, Son of God, finding hope and light in the midst of darkness and chaos, like those soldiers in the picture.
The story told by Matthew’s gospel writer reminds us and reassures us God makes plans from the underside of history. God is never predictable. God of the vulnerable child persecuted by kings and empires, is a God who is hidden in poverty and the ruins of war, away from the glare of celebrity and wealth, unexpectedly celebrated in the darkness of the night, by outsiders such as the shepherds, and strangers, the prophets and sages from the far east, who followed God’s call to honour a new and unlikely looking king. We discover God’s definitions of King and Messiah have been redefined forever, we just haven’t been paying attention.
The shepherds left all their sheep to go searching for the one who would lead them home. The Wise Ones left their country and all they knew, to follow God’s star, seeing God’s message revealed throughout the cosmos for all time and all people, being spoken by God’s messengers to the whole world. God tells us, this small child, divinely revealed, came for everyone. And when all the drama of the announcement was apparently over, Joseph, Mary and Jesus had to leave their own country fleeing yet more violence and death from their own ruler, becoming refugees, choosing to trust and follow God’s dream for the whole world.
Last week, in Christmastide we honoured the Feast Day of The Holy Innocents, the children said to have been murdered by Herod as he sought to kill both the prophecy and the child promised as the one to replace him as king of the Jews.
On Christmas Day I spoke about God’s invitation and desire for us in times of fear:
‘Do not be afraid my children; for see – I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people.’ (Luke 2:10)
The vulnerable baby, God’s Son, lights up our world for all children in need of hope, care, love, compassion and solidarity. The baby Jesus, lights up our lives as we remember there is no need to be frightened, even though this small baby grew up and was killed. Jesus’ birth was always going to be a threat to those who ignore God, to those who choose darkness from the very beginning, and so they killed him and in a different time and place they thought they had succeeded.
However, whether in Bethlehem or on a hill, whether in Ukraine or in our own communities and homes, in refugee camps, or in our youth detention centres, there are those who still try to put out the light and hope of God around the world. However, we know Jesus is the true promise of divine love made real, the Epiphany we celebrate today. In the midst of our fears, with threats to our faith, and for some people, threats to their lives, God contradictorily and radically invites us to give thanks and praise, trusting in God’s righteousness and in God’s great mercy, and reminds us, we need not be afraid.
Today, we celebrate the birth of a small baby, God’s Son, Jesus, as Messiah and Saviour, a miracle baby, and the Epiphany as we see what God has done for us. The shepherds went home after encountering God and so did the Wise Ones, sharing the good news as we do too with one another each year. The soldiers shared the good news of a mother and child found safe and well. One day mothers and babies sheltering in bomb shelters and families living in refugee camps will be a distant memory. In the meantime, let us be in no doubt, God’s Word made flesh, God’s love is shining brightly over all the earth and the darkness has not overcome it.
The Lord be with you.