Sunday: The Feast of the Epiphany
Reading: Matthew 2:1-12
Preacher: Peter C. Lane

It is fascinating to me how we humans make meaning for our lives. Celebrations of epiphany, including our own, contain so much meaning making that it is hard to know if we didn't make this entire thing out of whole cloth. On this day that the Christian people have created to celebrate the manifestation of God in human form, it seems that the way God is manifested is through the creations of the humans who seek his manifestation. To me there is only one detail that must be there, only one detail I would go to the mattresses over: Jesus was born. For, it is Jesus who reveals God. The peasants in 1st century Palestine knew it, the author of Matthew a couple generations later knew it, the church through the ages knew it, and I know it. After that, making meaning from the conviction that Jesus is God seems to be in the hand of the faithful. It is in the stories we tell each other about God, the ways we interpret the world together in light of Jesus. Epiphany is a particularly good time to notice these stories. I can see at least four levels of meaning making in epiphany: a simple story line itself, the clues to meaning given by Matthew, the piling up of meanings over the centuries by the Christian people, and the large cultural celebrations. If we know God through ritual, through story, through festival, then epiphany is a smorgasbord of meaning making revelation.

The simple story line itself is so captivating. For me, but I imagine especially for our kids, it communicates loudly that Jesus is King. These characters from the east are so taken by this unique star that they go on a long journey whose destination they don't even know. Interestingly there is a break in the power of the star and they have to go ask directions of King Herod who seems previously unaware of Jesus. Even though late learning the news, Herod calls on the best and the brightest to locate the new king. And he conscripts the eastern astrologers into service, a service they thankfully end up refusing. But who needs directions? At this point the star returns and the easterners go to Bethlehem. They bow to the king, are filled with joy, and go home. The story speaks of the importance of journey, of the many and varied ways to Jesus, and perhaps above all of the importance of the person for whom every knee will bow.

The meaning making does not stop at the surface of the story. The author throws in all kinds of clues as to the meaning of the action. One of these clues seems to be that those close by don't recognize Jesus. The author of our gospel goes a long way to envision the visitors as gentiles. They are from the east, they're following a star like astrologers, and they are unaware that David's successor would come from Bethlehem. All that hammers home the point that it was gentiles who first recognized Jesus. Matthew contrasts the acceptance of Jesus by strangers to the rejection of Jesus by local rulers. Hence the murderous jealousy of King Herod abetted by experts in Hebrew bible. To Matthew's readers, quite possibly a Jewish audience, an explanation as to why so few recognized Jesus as King could have been meaningful.

The simple story provides meaning. A deeper understanding of the author's intent provides meaning. Well, the church did not want to be left out. Christian people have piled up meanings over the centuries, glomming on to epiphany and adding wonderful and varying meanings. First, of course, is the very naming of this feast day. It was the church that gave this festival its name, not the author of Matthew. Appearance or manifestation-that is what Epiphany means. It was the people in the centuries after Jesus who wanted/needed a time to concentrate on what they took as the appearance of God to man. In 3rd century Alexandria, Epiphany was a celebration of Jesus' birth and baptism. Only shortly later the West started Christmas as a celebration of Jesus' birth. Soon the West had introduced Christmas to the East and the East had introduced Epiphany to the West. Most kept both festivals agreeing that the purpose of each was to highlight Jesus' divinity. To one 5th century bishop, the wise men are only one of three ways of demonstrating that conviction: Jesus' baptism and the water to wine deal being the other two. In today's liturgical calendar we separate those things out; come back next week for the baptism of Christ.

Over the centuries, meanings have exploded. Many have tried to wring some meaning out of the gifts. Was gold a symbol of monarchy, underlining the contention that Christ was King? Perhaps the Myrrh refers to a particular oil that Exodus 30 says was used for "the anointed one." Or maybe the Myrrh is supposed to symbolically refer to the Myrrh used by Nicodemus for the preparation of Jesus' body for burial, tying Jesus' birth to his death. And Frankincense? Exodus also says frankincense was reserved for use only in the sanctuary. Perhaps the evangelist was anticipating a time when this baby would be worshipped with God the Father? More simply, everyone assumes there must be three magi since there were three gifts. And that they must be kings, having read Isaiah 60 or more likely having sung, "We three kings of orient are," a song composed for a Christmas Pageant at General Seminary-Jim and my alma mater. All this ought to allow the Church to ponder Jesus' relation to God.

Hearing the simple story, knowing the author's intentions, recognizing the Church's interpretations all provide meaning. The culture at large didn't want to be left out. Today after our liturgies we go downstairs to celebrate El Día de los Reyes. Talk about meaning making! I taught at a Puerto Rican school in Philly for three years and so I did a little research on how they celebrate Los Reyes. El Boricua.com told me, "If you are Puerto Rican then you have to celebrate Los Reyes." Celebrate it Puerto Rican style, have kids cut grass on January 5th and put it in a box under their bed (for the camels). Put a small gift from Los Reyes in the box once they fall asleep - and don't forget to throw out the grass. Have a special and festive Día de Reyes meal that day. Take pictures of your children with their boxes. After dinner make it a tradition to sing a Reyes song." The description goes on to point out that "for centuries Puerto Rican children have celebrated Los Reyes in the same manner as their grandparents did when they were children." Far afield from Matthew, but not without considerable meaning.

So, are we making meaning out of whole cloth? Not whole cloth. We begin our sewing with an important fragment: the person of Jesus. Do we all get together to add power to that reality? You bet. God is often manifested through the creations of the humans who seek his manifestation.