The Magi - James He Chi
Today is the actual day we celebrate Epiphany. James He Chi’s artwork portrays the Magi as so many others do in a scene that appears to echo Luke’s version of the story of Christ’s birth on the day of his birth (or perhaps the next day). If we look closely at the text in Matthew it says the Wise Men actually went to their house. It’s Herod’s counsel that point him to Bethlehem, there’s good reason to believe they would have been back in Nazareth! Matthew 2:11 tells us the Magi entered the house. Without getting caught in this struggle of scripture for a minute I would rather focus on an idea that is seen in many Epiphanies. We want them to be fast and quick, but they are more often a process.
We can think that the Star came and that the Wise Men arrived that night, but a one two three year process is what many biblical experts believe would be the dating of this event if it occurred as written. This echoes most our own Epiphanies doesn’t it? Oh sure it’s nice to have that overnight dream that comes to fruition immediately, but most of the time the new dream takes time.
Ever create a mission statement? Ever try to change business culture? Ever try to lose weight? Sure it can happen quickly, but more often than not it is a process. Many of us have the same journey with faith issues. We want a quick answer, but more often than not great Epiphanies take years not days. This isn’t to discourage the search. It’s just to remind you that the day the Magi set out on their journey was probably not the first day of their Epiphany either!
God who is with us through the long haul,
Stir up in each of us your Holy Spirit that will awaken embers of faith today that they might burn brightly tomorrow. Give us courage to share new ideas in the hopes that together with your breath of life they may be awakened into something more. Amen.
Pastor Michael Stadtmueller
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