Mark 1:4-11

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

On Wednesday we all witnessed a historic, unprecedented, and horrific event as fellow American citizens stormed the US Capitol building in a deadly attempt to thwart democracy.

Also on Wednesday, the Western Christian church entered the liturgical season of Epiphany – a season dedicated to the idea that God’s presence and goodness is being unveiled, revealed, shown to the nations of the earth. Light, in the midst of darkness. Order out of chaos.

The gospel text for the day of the Epiphany of our Lord this past Wednesday was the story of the magi presenting themselves and their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the Holy Family. Their journey takes place under the orders and watchful gaze of an arrogant and entitled ruler who has received word that his political power will come to an end due to the birth of a new king. Herod’s solution to the threat of his power being taken away is a violent one: he has every male infant in the region murdered. He himself does not carry out the violence, but he entrusts his followers to use whatever violent means they see fit in order to accomplish this goal. They oblige.

The wise men, upon finding the Christ Child, do not return to Herod with news of the child’s location, but instead went home by another road – a beautiful and brilliant act of nonviolent resistance. The magi, those “wise” men, did their part to disengage from a pattern of destruction and take some violence out of circulation – a brave decision with history-altering ramifications.

The season of Epiphany begins with a warning about the horrific lengths that individuals intoxicated by worldly power will undertake when that power is threatened. The season also begins with the acknowledgment that nonviolence is the foundation of God’s kingdom.

The next Epiphany story – the next story about God’s presence and goodness being unveiled, revealed, shown to the nations of the earth – is what we heard today. John the Baptizer is calling people to repent – to do a 180-degree about-face with their lives – in order to be ready for the coming of salvation.

One among the crowd heeds the invitation and completely submerges in the cleansing waters of baptism. “And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” His life would go on to prove that being loved by God is the true power of the universe and that love cannot be taken away.

I don’t remember my baptism, but I know without a doubt that water was poured over my head along with the declaration that God loves me. If you have been baptized, then you too have heard the words of God’s love for you. If you have witnessed the community gathered around the baptismal font and applauded as the baby, teen, or adult was presented to the community, then you have been reminded of the unique way that God’s love is expressed over and over again as those water drops fall off the forehead and return to the font. If you have experienced the pronouncement of God’s love for you, then you have within you the most powerful thing in the world and it is power that cannot be taken away.

Two Epiphany stories of two powerful men. Two totally different ways of reacting to God’s presence and offer of salvation. Herod was horrified; Jesus was humbled. Both were loved by God, but only one knew that God’s love was sufficient...that God’s love is the most powerful thing in the world and it is power that cannot be taken away.

World history is replete with stories of men who reacted violently when their worldly power and positions of privilege were threatened. The pages of scripture tell of scores of rulers, even God-fearing ones, who sought to preserve their power at all costs, even when it meant engaging in violence. Herod is simply one among many.

But we don’t worship the leaders who react violently when their positions of power and privilege are threatened. Instead, what unites us is our worship and adoration of the one who was humble enough to be washed, who rejected worldly power and false idols, who identified with society’s outcasts and gave them hope.

We worship the one who was executed by the violent power-hungry rulers and structures of the world. And we worship the one who rose from the dead, proving once and for all the complete futility of worldly power.

Why, then, was Christian imagery referencing the prince of peace and the God of love found on the flags, clothes, signs, and lips of those who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday...those who express the sentiment that their worldly power and privilege is being stripped away? Why would the baptized and beloved of God resort to violence (or at least be a part of the mob that put others in harm’s way)?

As a representative of Christ’s church I have to publicly condemn not just their actions but the theology that contributed to their sense of right and wrong because it has more to do with Herod than Jesus.

Many Americans (though, sadly, not all) were quick to condemn the violence and lawbreaking that unfolded in our nation’s capital on Wednesday. However, those who participated in the insurgency are not the only elements that are to be condemned. As an assembly of people who profess to follow Christ above all else, we must all take the time to reflect on the ways in which we, too, are prone to react with violence when we feel that our power and privilege is being threatened. This is what it means to remember our baptism – to daily put to death that which seeks to displace God in our lives and daily to rise to new life as we focus on God alone.

The events of this week and the lives that were lost demand that each and every one of us take an honest look at how our actions are contributing to the violence that seems so readily-accessible today. In what ways do we feel our worldly power slipping away? To what lengths are we willing to go to prevent that from happening? And if our honest answer to that question scares us, we can remember our baptism and our belovedness. We can repent and return home by another way.

These are the early days of Epiphany. God’s presence and goodness is being unveiled, revealed, shown to the nations of the earth. Light, in the midst of darkness. Order out of chaos. We keep watch together. We keep watch over one another. And we do all we can to remind one another of our belovedness. That is the true power that cannot be taken away.

Amen.

Matthew 2:1-12

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: "And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.' " Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage."

When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

On our post-Christmas trip to Ohio to spend time with family, my mother-in-law took the time to read several stories to her grandkids. One they particularly enjoyed was The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. This is the classic fictional story of how one church Christmas pageant unfolds once the Herdman kids become involved.

The Herdmans were no typical group of siblings, rather, they’re referred to as “the worst kids in the history of the world.” The Herdman kids are unrestrained by manners or social norms, and they cause more than their fair share of destruction and frustration. However, as they engage with the Christmas story for the first time, they bring their own particular type of innocence and insight to the pageant performance. It all culminates in a heartwarming production that brings everyone to tears.

One of the most touching moments is when the wise men present their gifts to Jesus. The Herdman boys discussed among themselves and decided frankincense and myrrh were “crummy” gifts. Instead, Leroy decided the best thing he could offer Jesus was the ham out of his family’s Christmas welfare basket. So that’s exactly what he proudly carries down the center aisle of the church and lays at the manger.

It’s a story that beautifully illustrates that even the “worst kids in the history of the world” are capable of profound acts of beauty, generosity, and love when they encounter the story of Jesus. The Herdman children serve as role models for how our hearts and minds can be filled with love when we encounter the Christ, whether in the pages of scripture or through the production of a church Christmas pageant. And that love will lead us to offer our own gifts for the sake of Christ, be they gold, frankincense, myrrh, or ham.

It is unclear exactly how or when the practice of giving gifts became wrapped up in the observation of Christmas. Certainly one of the influences was the story of the wise men presenting gifts to Christ. The wise men, or more accurately called magi, were practitioners of an Eastern religion, Zoroastrianism. Through some form of astrology and/or astronomy they came to understand that a new Jewsh king had been born. We are not told why the magi were interested in this development; although I think it’s safe to assume they did not set out with the intention of giving gifts to the new king. There simply would have been no reason for them to do so. The Hebrews were not a group that commanded fear, respect, or tribute from others. Scripture only tells us that when the magi encounter Jesus directly they are filled with joy. Only then do they open up their treasure chests and pull out precious items to give to Jesus.

The wise men from scripture as well as the wise men from The Best Christmas Pageant Ever serve to remind us of what is possible when we encounter Christ. We will be filled with joy and led to give of ourselves.

I hope that you have had such encounters with Christ in your life of discipleship, likely through scripture reading, prayer, service to others, or worship. Chances are good that the degree to which you live a life of generosity and joy is directly attributed to your having encountered and experienced Christ.

This is a story of profound beauty and hope; however, we can’t leave this gospel story without addressing the dire warning it also contains. There’s a character in the story who never has a direct encounter with Christ and as you heard in last week’s gospel, the world is made worse off for it.

King Herod learns of the birth of a supposed Jewish King and is filled with fear, anger, paranoia, and insecurity. He knows nothing of the joy, peace, truth, and generosity of God the Son. All he knows and cares about is his own status, power, and self-sufficiency. Perhaps things would have turned out differently for Herod had he been able to have a direct encounter with God through Christ. In the end he orders the slaughter of children in order to preserve his claim to earthly power -- a move, it should be pointed out, that did nothing to preserve his power nor derail God’s plan for salvation.

Here we have two dramatically different postures to consider. Herod looks down on others and is filled with anger, paranoia, and insecurity. The kneeling magi, on the other hand, look up with reverence and are filled with awe and curiosity.

These two postures deeply affect how we interact with the world. How much of our time and energy each day is spent looking down on others? How much of our time and energy each day is spent looking up with reverence at the mysterious and miraculous ways God is working through others?

Are the scales of our emotional lives tipped more to the side of anger, paranoia, and insecurity? Or are they tipped more toward awe, curiosity, and reverence?

As we experience the story of the magi encountering Christ, consider the invitation to approach Christ in your own life through spiritual practices such as mediation, prayer, scripture, and worship, and allow your heart to be transformed into one of wonder and generosity.

As we experience the story of foreigners and adherents to other religions giving gifts to Christ, be reminded that “members of Earth’s religions don’t need to see their counterparts as competitors or enemies. Instead, we can approach one another with the spirit of gift-giving and honor, as exemplified by the Magi” (Brian McLaren, We Make the Road by Walking, 83).

May your worship and discipleship through this season of Epiphany lead you to new encounters with Christ that will form in you a life of awe, curiosity, and reverence at God and the wonders of creation.

Amen.

The True Power of God's Love

Looking Up with the Magi