Bringing our Gifts Matthew 2:1 12 Sunday, January 6, 2013 Rev. Stephanie Swanson FBC Smithville Pulpit

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1 BringingourGifts Matthew2:1 12 Sunday,January6,2013 Rev.StephanieSwanson FBCSmithvillePulpit Matthew2: InthetimeofKingHerod,afterJesuswasborninBethlehemofJudea,wisemenfromtheEast cametojerusalem, 2 asking, WhereisthechildwhohasbeenbornkingoftheJews?Forwe observedhisstaratitsrising,andhavecometopayhimhomage. 3 WhenKingHerodheard this,hewasfrightened,andalljerusalemwithhim; 4 andcallingtogetherallthechiefpriests andscribesofthepeople,heinquiredofthemwherethemessiahwastobeborn. 5 Theytold him, InBethlehemofJudea;forsoithasbeenwrittenbytheprophet: 6 Andyou,Bethlehem, inthelandofjudah,arebynomeansleastamongtherulersofjudah;forfromyoushallcome arulerwhoistoshepherdmypeopleisrael. 7 ThenHerodsecretlycalledforthewisemen andlearnedfromthemtheexacttimewhenthestarhadappeared. 8 Thenhesentthemto Bethlehem,saying, Goandsearchdiligentlyforthechild;andwhenyouhavefoundhim, bringmewordsothatimayalsogoandpayhimhomage. 9 Whentheyhadheardtheking, theysetout;andthere,aheadofthem,wentthestarthattheyhadseenatitsrising,untilit stoppedovertheplacewherethechildwas. 10 Whentheysawthatthestarhadstopped,they wereoverwhelmedwithjoy. 11 Onenteringthehouse,theysawthechildwithMaryhismother; andtheykneltdownandpaidhimhomage.then,openingtheirtreasurechests,theyoffered himgiftsofgold,frankincense,andmyrrh. 12 Andhavingbeenwarnedinadreamnottoreturn toherod,theyleftfortheirowncountrybyanotherroad. PerhapsyougrewupunderstandingthesignificanceofEpiphanyorperhaps,like myself,thecharactersofthechristmasstoryhadbeensmashedtogetherinonescenein suchawaythatyouknewnodifferencebetweenchristmasandepiphany.idon trecall everhearingepiphanypreacheduponinchurchasachildandicertainlydidn tknowthere werecertaintraditionsthatwentwiththeday.infact,itwasn tuntiligottoknowmy husbandthatireallylearnedaboutepiphanysincehisfamilyobservediteveryyear. WeoftenapproachthemangersceneonChristmassurroundedbynotonly shepherds,butalsothreewisemen.injustabouteverychristmaspageantweseethree childrendressedinrobesandcarryinggiftsapproachingthebabeinthemanger.perhaps asachildyouevenhadtheopportunitytoplayoneofthemagi.butepiphanycallsthe wisementotheirrightfulplace,awayfromthestableandintoahousewherejesusislikely tohavebeenafewweeksorevenafewmonthsold. ThefirsttimeIvisitedmyin law shomeovertheholidaysidiscoveredthattheir nativityscenewasnotcomplete.eachsundayofadventadifferentpieceofthestory wouldunfoldandanewcharacterwouldarriveonscene,withjesusarrivingfinallyinthe crècheonchristmasmorning.thewisemen,however,stayedawayforsometime.all throughtheadventseasonandevenforthetwoweeksafterchristmas,thewisemen wouldslowlymoveacrossthehouseandmaketheirwaytotheholyfamily,onlyarriving uponepiphany. ThetwelvedaysbetweenChristmasandEpiphanymarkthetimethatthewisemen traveled,althoughwedonotknowtheactuallengthoftheirjourney.beingastrologers,the magiwatchedforsignsintheskyandtheappearanceofabrightstarrisingsignaledthe 1

2 birthofaruler.souponseeingthestartheysetouttomeetthenewkingandpayhim homage.matthew sstorysetsupthecontrastbetweenthemagiandkingherodin responsetojesus birth.asgentiles,thewisemenandkingherodwouldn thavebeenwell versedintheholyscripturesnorwoulditseemtheywouldhavegivenmuchmerittothe wordsofthejewishprophetsforetellingthebirthofthemessiah,andyettheyallrespond insignificantways.herod,fearingthepossibilitythatthisweebabecouldbeathreattohis kingdomandkingship,ordersthekillingofallboysundertwoinbethlehemandthe surroundingarea.whilethemagi,ingreatcontrast,leavetheirhomelandtotravelinto foreignlandstohonorthisbabethattheybelievewillbecomeamanworthrevering.and soeachyear,weencounterepiphanywhenthelightoftheworldbecomesfirstknownto thegentiles,somerespondinginaweasdidthewisemen,andsomechoosingnottofollow thelight,butthreatenitsverylifeasdidkingherod. Unfortunatelythough,weoftenloseEpiphanyinthemixaswescoopitupintothe ChristmasstoryandbythetimethetwelfthdayofChristmastidearrives,manyofushave movedonfromchristmas.asjanuary6approacheseachyearwe vealreadymovedpast thechristmasholidayaswellasnewyear sandweoftenforgetthecelebration commemoratingthemanifestationofchristtothegentileworld.eveninmanychurches wefailtorecognizetheday.infact,ifithadnotbeenformyin laws,istillmayhavebeen failingtohonorthisdayastraditionintended.beingtwelvedaysafterchristmas,epiphany movesthroughoutthedaysoftheweekeachyear,buteveryonceinawhileepiphanyfalls onasundayandwefeelit srighttofullyhonortheday ssignificance.inmyponderingsof EpiphanyIcameacrossthispoemwrittenbyJanRichardson,anauthorI vecometoenjoy readingthelastfewyears.ihopeherwordswillhelpdrawyouintothesignificanceofthis day. BlessingoftheMagi Thereisnoreversing thisroad. Thepaththatboreyouhere goesinonedirectiononly, everystepdrawingyou downaway bywhichyouwillnot return. Youthoughtarrival waseverything, thatyourentirejourney endedwithkneeling intheplace youhadspentall tofind. Whenyoulaiddown yourgift, 2

3 releasecamewithsuchease, yourtreasuretumbling fromyourhands inaweand benediction. Nowtheknowledge ofyourleaving comeslikeastonelaid overyourheart, thefamiliarpathclosed andnoteventhesolace ofastar toguideyourway. Youwillsetoutinfear youwillsetoutindream butyouwillsetout bythatotherroad thatliesinshadow andindark. Wecannotshowyou theroutethatwill takeyouhome; thatwayisyours andwillbefound inthewalking. Butwetellyou youwillwonder athowthelightyouthought youhadleftbehind goeswithyou, spillingfrom youremptyhands, shimmeringbeneath yourhomewardfeet, illuminatingtheroad witheverystep youtake. (JanRichardson) 3

4 4 Theysetouttomeetthenewkingandpaytheirrespectsandperhapstheythought theirpartinthematterwouldendoncetheyhadlaidtheirgiftsbeforethebabe,buti dlike tothink,asrichardsonproposes,thattheirjourneycontinuedon thattheywerechanged bytheirencounterwiththechristchildandthatthelightwentwiththemandalteredtheir course,justasitdoesforus.thesewisemencamewithgiftsbecauseastaralertedthem thatanewkingwasborn,butwhattheyfoundwasn tjustanyking,buttheinfinite generosityofgodfoundinthegivingofgod sself.andtheirresponse,asoursshouldbe too,wastogiveofthemselvesinreturn. Overtimethestoryofthewisemenandtheirgiftsbecamehonoredinthechurch andinhomesandtraditionsdevelopedaroundcelebratingtheday.you dbesurprisedat whatyou dfindifyouwentonlineandgoogledepiphanytraditions.manycountries celebratetheday,someevenmakingabiggerdealofitwithgiftsthanonchristmas.only twoyearsagodidilearnaboutkingcakes,atraditioncomingoutoflouisiana.apparently myownfamilyfromthesouthdidn tpracticethistradition.doyouknowit?ababyjesus orsomeothertrinketisbakedintoacakeandthenonepiphanyeveryonegetsapiece. WhoeverfindsthebabyJesusiskingorqueenfortheday.TheEpiphanytraditions,asyou canlikelyimagine,rangefromsilly,funcelebrationstomorereflective,respectfulpractices. Mymother in lawwasborninuruguaytoargentineanandspanishparents,infact theycametotheunitedstatesasmissionaries.andfromhercultureshebroughtmany traditions,includingthepracticeofchildrenputtingtheirshoesoutthenightbefore Epiphany.Liketheirtravelingnativity,thispracticewasnewtomeaswellasIgottoknow theirfamily.childrenwouldlayouttheirshoesforthewisementoleavegiftsinasthey traveled.manyfamiliesevengosofarasputtingoutwaterandhayforthecamels.i ll admit,thefirsttimewedidthisisnickeredabitbecauseitseemedabitsillytometoput outmyshoes,butasireflectedonthetraditioniagainwasguidedinpullingthosewise menoutofthechristmaspageantandputtingthembackintheirrightfulplaceatepiphany. Ithinkitalsohelpedusstepawayfromtheexcessivequalitythatgiftgivingcantakeonat Christmasandrefocusedourenergyupongivinggiftsasarepresentationofthegiftsthat weregiventothechristchild. Forsomeonewhodidn tknowwhatepiphanywasasachild,i vegrownfondofthis dayinourchurchcalendarthatoftengetsswallowedupandforgotten.iwasexcitedtosee thatitfellonasundaythisyearandprayedforsometimeoverwhatwordthestoryofthe magicouldbringustoday.thereismuchtofindinthetext,butasireflectedonthe traditionsi vegrowntolove,ikeptcomingbacktothegifts.thethreegiftstestifytowho Jesusis.Goldisoffered,asitwasappropriateforaking.Frankincensestoodasasymbolof Jesus divinityandmyrrhmadereferencetothefactthatthesonofmanwoulddie.we probablyaren tabouttoturnaroundandofferjesus,oranyoneforthatmatter,agiftof gold,frankincense,andmyrrh,someofwhichiwouldn tevenknowhowtofind.these gifts,althoughsignificantintheirday,don tquitecarrythesameweightwithustoday.so whatwouldweoffer? IthoughtaboutthisasIreadFinnoneofhisChristmasbooksinwhichayoungchild considerswhathewoulddoifhehadbeentherethatnight howloudhewouldhave mooedifhewasacowstandingnearby,howbrighthewouldhaveshinedasthestar,how hewouldhaveofferedthekinghisbestteddybeartosnugglewithifhehadbeenoneofthe wisemen.thechildreflectsattheendthateventhoughhewasn ttherepersonally,hestill canshoutthegoodnews,andspreadthemessagethatjesushasbeenborn.it sasimple

5 andcutebookwithdifferenttexturestofeel,likethesoftteddybear,butitleftmedeepin thought.whatwouldweoffer?howdowegoaboutofferingit? AsIsaidbefore,Epiphanyoftengetsforgotten,especiallyasweshiftgearsfrom ChristmastoNewYear sandbeginmakingournewyear sresolutions.i lladmit,i mnot verygoodatmakingresolutionsonjanuary1.iprobablyshouldmakearesolutionabout keepingmyresolutions.ilikethestartofanewyear,butsomehowitdoesn tquite motivatemelikeitdoessomepeopletochangemywaysordosomethingdifferent.what doesinspiremethoughisthedevotionweseeoffollowersofchristthroughoutthebible andourhistory,andgod sgiftofchristactsastheultimatemotivationformetogrowand change. Iwanttochallengeusthisyeartorespondtothisquestion howcanwegivemore ofourselvestochrist?andalongwiththat,howcanwegivemoreofourselvestothe church?whatarethegiftswecanbring?churchisn tjustastoppinggroundforustobe fed,it salsoaplacewhereweallserve,andiwanttoemphasizethe all partofthat statement.thereisaplaceforallofustoserveourlordandthechurchisanavenue throughwhichwecandothat.ihopeyou llexploresomeoftheareasyou reinterestedin andconsiderhowyoucanofferthosegiftstoourlord.whatthosegiftslooklikecanrange greatly.letmegiveyouanideaofwhatimean. AfewyearsagoIwasapartofanordinationserviceforagroupofdeacons.We wantedtoemphasizethatbeingadeaconwasaboutmorethanjustbeingaboardthat madedecisions;it saboutserviceandministry.weaskedeachdeacontoplaceasymbol onthecommuniontableofthewayinwhichtheyplannedtoserve.you dbesurprisedat whatallwasonthatcommuniontablethatsundaymorning.placeduponthebeautiful whitecloth,surroundingthecrossandcandleswereitemslikeold,dirtytennisshoes, candy,tools,books,andtoys.onedeaconbroughtinhistennisshoesthathadclearlyseen someroughdaystosymbolizethathewouldalwaysbeworkinghard,eveninthetoughest ofsituations.wecouldcallonhimevenwhentheworkaheadwasrough.onewoman offeredcandybecauseshesaidshelovedworkingwithchildren,butatherageithad gottendifficultsoshewouldalwayssitoutsidethesanctuarybeforeandafterworshipand talkwiththekidsastheycameintochurch.andshealwayshadcandyonhertosharewith thekids!otheritemssymbolizedthedeacons willingnesstohelpwithspiritualgrowthby teachingbiblestudiesortohandlemaintenanceissues.someoffereditemsthatshowed theirpassionforworkingwithyouthorchildren.itwasprobablythestrangestassortment ofitemstoevergraceacommuniontable,butitwasalsobeautifulbecausethesedeacons wereofferingofthemselves,oftheirtimeandtheirgiftstohonorgodandtocarryout God sworkthroughthechurch. IsharethatstorywithyoubecauseIhopeyou llseethattherearemanywayswe canservegodandofferourgiftstogodthroughthechurch,andallareimportant. Whetheryou reinterestedinteachingorhelpingwithaclass,oryou regoodwithyour handsandwanttohelpwithprojectsaroundthebuilding,oryouwanttogetinvolvedwith amissionprojectoryou dlovetogreetpeopleandhelpthemfeelwelcomeatourchurch, thereisaplaceforyoutoserve.evenifyou vebeenservinginthischurchfordecades, theremightbeanareayou vealwaysbeeninterestedin,butnevertookpartinbefore.or perhapsyou renotabletodosomeofthethingsyoucouldinthepastandnowyouneedto re imaginehowyoucanserve.youmightbesomeonewhojusthasn tbeenaskedtohelp outoryou renotsurewhatyouhavetooffer.weallhavegiftstoofferthechristchildand 5

6 weallareneededinordertohelpourchurchbeanextensionofthatloveandgracethat GodoffersusinJesus.Ihopethataswebeginthisnewyearwecanallcometogetherand servesothatourchurchcanbewhatgodenvisionsforit.someoneinthechurchmay cometoyouaskingifyoucanhelpoutinanareaandihopeyou llseethatasan opportunitytoofferyourgiftstothechristchild.butialsohopethatyou llcometous, seekingtoofferyourselftothechurchandherministriesbecausewemaynotknowwhat yourgiftsareorwhereyouareinterestedinserving.i msure,though,thatwecanfinda waytohelpyourinterestsandyourfaithcoincidefortheworkofthekingdom.godhas offeredustheperfectgiftinjesuschrist.thewisemen,whoweren tfollowersofthe IsraeliteGod,butGentilessawthestarandfolloweditinsearchoftruth.Whatthey witnessed,theonetowhomtheybroughttheirgifts,musthavealteredtheirpathfromthat pointonward.thechristchildisheretotransformourlivestoo,tochangeourpath.join withmethisyearinreimaginingwhatitmeanstoofferourgiftstothebabeinthemanger. Whatwouldyouplaceonthecommuniontabletosymbolizethegiftyouwillbringthis yeartoourgodandourking?amen. 6