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SERMON FOR SUNDAY JANUARY 4, 2009
2ND SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS
MATTHEW 2:1-12 – THE MAGIWhen you look up at the sky, what do you see?
There was a Peanuts cartoon from long ago, that showed Charlie Brown and Lucy and Linus out on a hillside, on a beautiful day with blue sky and white puffy clouds. They are lying down in the grass, looking up, and Lucy says, “If you use your imagination, you can see lots of things in the cloud formations… What do you think you see, Linus?”
“Well,” says Linus, “those clouds up there look to me like the map of the British Honduras on the Caribbean… That cloud up there looks a little like the profile of Thomas Eakins, the famous painter and sculptor… And that group of clouds over there gives me the impression of the stoning of Stephen… I can see the Apostle Paul standing there to one side…”
Lucy replies: “Uh huh. That’s very good. What do you see in the clouds, Charlie Brown?”
“Well, I was going to say I saw a ducky and a horsie, but I changed my mind.”
When you look up in the sky, what do you see?
The magi long ago saw a star. Not just any star, but a star incredibly bright and big. Maybe a comet. Maybe 2 or 3 stars or planets lined up together so that they blurred into one spot of dazzling light in the sky. Maybe a divine beacon that appeared directly from heaven, like the pillar of fire and cloud that led the children of Israel as they escaped through the desert.
Whatever it was, it gave them pause. This was no ordinary heavenly object. It gave them pause – only long enough to realize that they had to move. It was time for action. You don’t see a sign like that star and then just turn your eyes down and go about business as usual. At least… You could, but the rest of your life you would wonder what would have happened if you had believed in your heart what you saw with your eyes.
Do you ever wonder why it is that only the magi seemed to see the star? If it was so bright and so clearly a sign from heaven, why weren’t there throngs of travelers following it? Why weren’t the desert oases booked solid with pilgrims on their way to wherever the star was leading?
One answer is that… well… this is a story that Matthew tells, to help us understand some things about the birth of the Messiah. Just like in Luke’s story of shepherds on the hillside, and the whole sky being lit up with an army of angels singing about peace and good news for all people – but only the shepherds saw it – the stories are not about everybody. They are not news accounts. They are not objective historical record. Matthew tells us this story so we will know that Jesus’ birth was foretold by ancient prophets… And so we will know that Jesus came for everyone, even people from far away with different customs and different names for God.
Or perhaps other people did see, but didn’t let it make them do crazy things. They looked up and saw a ducky and a horsie and said “How nice,” and went about their day. But the magi saw a star, a divine portent, and it changed their lives forever.
There are still people today who see things – in the sky, in their neighborhoods, in their sister’s or brother’s eyes – that seem to be signs from God. There are still people today who are looking for the Christ child, and who notice signs that give them pause and then call them to action. And just like the magi, they bring gifts. The gifts and abilities they have help them know what kind of action to take.
Some people see poverty and need, and they pack their bags and go on a journey – to Africa or Belize or North Dakota or New Orleans … any number of places where there is hunger or homelessness or need for education. Some people give up their vacations or weekends to staff Project Home’s temporary shelters, or to build houses, or to mentor children. Some people give their gifts of gold (that’s more common than frankincense or myrrh these days). Some people write encouraging notes, and make praying for others a daily priority. Some people go out of their way to drive others where they need to go. Some people cook food, some people just sit and listen, some people share their knowledge… And there are many more ways that those who recognize the signs of God in our world respond.
Here’s what they have in common: They have seen something, in the sky or at least beyond themselves… Something that gave them pause, that changed the course of their life and makes them do things that it would be easier not to do. Like the magi they follow the sign from God that they have seen. No matter how hopeless, no matter how far. And they continue on because, well, what else would they do? Having seen the star, you just can’t put your head down and pretend it’s not there.
Or you could… but you would miss out on the great adventure of traveling together, with others who are also following the star, finding Christ again and again, offering our gifts again and again.
What do you see, when you look at the sky?
- Lydia Huttar Brown*
