January 6, 2019

Cate Thorn

The Epiphany     Isaiah 60:1-6     Matthew 12:1-12

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Today is the feast of the Epiphany when we hear story of the three wise men, or Magi, or astrologers. Actually the number of them isn’t specified. They follow a trail traced by celestial sign to a place, at a time, where a person of moment in the course of earthly history, is born. We include in our faith story the telling of these ones who come from outside the story, from afar. Of ones learned in reading the signs of the time, who see written in the rhythm and spin of the stars, in the wisdom and word of the wise ones of old the coming of a king, a leader of significance in a tradition not their own. We tell of long travelling ones who choose to go toward, to see the coming to birth of such significant one. Recognition causes them to prostrate and pay homage. Now, you could say it was simply a canny move, for if indeed a new king is born, what better way to make alliances than this? To broker relationship and potential future trade deals. If so, it’s interesting that Magi, or astrologers, or wise ones are sent – unless their society was one that traded in wisdom.

Perhaps this tale is one of those stories that may not have actually happened but nevertheless is true. All number of curious investigations have been undertaken by people who’ve sought to prove scientifically and categorically that this actually happened, and it may have. Yet, if the context of our journey in faith is to wholeness and holiness in God, what has this story to teach us? 

One Christian tradition interprets this Magi visitation as testifying to Jesus significance, foreshadowing Jesus’ Messiah identity. Matthew uses wise and learned ones from outside the frame of Judaic tradition to identify Jesus as the One prophesied to come. Its right and fitting that they acknowledge and prostrate before Jesus. After all the heavens themselves portend Jesus’ birth, for it’s by cosmic sign of guiding star that the footsteps of those who know how to read such sign are guided.

How do we ‘translate’ this story into today’s context, make sense of it in our journey in this time? I wonder who we’d cast as Magi, astronomers, those of wisdom in our day and age. We construct our understanding of the world we live in differently now from then. We consider ourselves far more knowledgeable about the physical world, so likely scoff at the notion of future telling by the movement of stars. Even if such future telling were done in conversation with prophetic, wisdom texts of long ago it’s not rendered more credible an exercise. Who do you consider to be the wise ones reading the signs of our times – social or political commentators, scientists, historians, theologians, artists, politicians, academics? After some puzzling I’m not sure I know. The more educated or trained or skilled people become it seems the narrower their field of expertise they become expert at very small and focussed things. 

By compare, the Magi in today’s tale seem to have eye on a pretty big picture. Looking back and looking forward, they include, expect, seek to know, to understand a pattern in cosmic events over time that’s shaped past and will influence future. They know how and are willing to cooperate with, to trust themselves to the unfolding of this new thing, this event to take place. Open to wisdom, she teaches them there are far greater forces in heaven and earth than can be imagined, not for them to tame but for them to join themselves to. Through which they more deeply indwell the world they occupy.

Maybe in our today context if enough focussed skilled people gathered together they could create a bigger picture perspective from which to understand events, patterns that have shaped past, will and are influencing future. Assuming such a collection of experts was able to communicate meaningfully with one another and be willing to contribute their expertise beyond their specialty to benefit a cause beyond their own. 

Or have we lost interest in a bigger picture world? With so much detail in our little picture world are we already almost overwhelmed. Maybe with all our expertise and knowingness we’ve given up really believing there’s any force greater than that of human ingenuity and power. Scanning the political and social landscape of our world at the moment, we might be given cause to consider. 

Take the Trump phenomenon of selfish self-regard. We might abhor his strutting pride in playing loose and easy with truth and morality, his thumbing nose derision of accountability for his behaviour and flagrant gut trusting decisions imperilling the world. Scapegoat him as isolated example but I’m beginning to wonder whether such narcissistic priority isn’t leaching into our world. Or maybe it’s always been there, it’s just now become publicly acceptable for unapologetic self-seeking behaviour and attitude to be made overt on the world’s social and political stage. How often do we hear people, nations, alliances saying, we’re doing this because it’s good for us, seemingly without conscience or consideration for the repercussions or the impact of such action, especially on those with little or no power. How many countries are choosing for political leadership that promises self-preservation, inwardly self-focused protectionism against the outsider, against relationships that don't immediately gratify or be of benefit to them?

This way of acting seems to be gaining acceptability. Does choosing this way indicate we’ve given up believing we’ve connection in common with those different from us, with those gone before us, with those yet to come, with mutual responsibility each to the other? Given up believing there’s really any power/force that can influence or change the way things are with which we can cooperate and trust ourselves?

This Magi story of outsiders is also interpreted as foreshadowing a greater inclusion of those known as God’s chosen people, foreshadowing the inclusion of Gentiles, foreshadowing for Christians what becomes Christianity. From an insider Christian position we speak of God opening the boundaries to include more people. But what if we have this back to front? What if this tale’s rather to teach insiders than proffer promise to outsiders? For insiders to learn to see outsiders as also gift bearers – that those who see otherwise to us bring gift of our world seen differently. Open insiders to perceive a world deeper, wider, wiser than we imagined. Divine presence revealed in ways unimagined beyond the boundaries we create.

What is it the Magi seek when they read the stars; examine the texts of prophets, words and wisdom of sages gone by? Labelled as wise ones, are they seekers of wisdom? Ones open to deeper knowing, willing to learn, consider, perhaps embrace new ways to understand and perceive life, the world. Wisdom, that something which eludes the grasp of the intellect – shared in common, perhaps with differing words we express our encounter, yet even so when wisdom is spoken or spoken of it’s something we recognise, despite difference in dialect.

Matthew chose to include this story of outsiders. Unexpectedly, not by the usual route, from outside sources of tradition these outsiders search. Not exactly sure what they’re looking for they ask for assistance, they’re open to the knowledge and wisdom of another tradition, open to learn, open to delight, express joy in finding what they’re seeking, openly generous in sharing, giving of their abundance. These Magi of wisdom lineage are able to know when they’ve found what they’re looking for. Their seeing reveals this to be made real, the wisdom they sought is alive in the world – for Matthew in form of the infant Jesus. They come, prostrate, honour with gifts and depart. They’re not converted. We’ve no idea if they’re changed at all. By another route they return to the place that is home.

For Matthew these outsiders are necessary. Included in our story they reveal ourstory, of wisdom come to birth, present, with us. Wisdom seeking people recognise this, are willing to align themselves with it, acknowledge leadership of those who live and guide this way. It’s a leadership unlike that which predominates in our world. It’s a leadership that’s threat to those who lead as Herod does.

It wasn’t complicated what these wise ones did, they chose to take time to notice the world around them, to see and recognise in the world, patterns and shifts that revealed wisdom and augured change. Change taking place in real time. They chose to digress from their ordinary lives to act. Their acting reveals the presence of wisdom in the tangible knowable, flesh and blood vulnerable of daily life. Before this these wise ones pay homage in wonder – at the confluence of history and universe and holiness made real.