don't lose the star

Sermon-Epiphany Jan. 6, 2008
The Cloud of Unknowing, "O God, our great companion, lead us ever more deeply into the mystery of your life and ours, that we may be faithful interpreters of that Life to each other, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen."
You’ve heard this one: If it had been Three Wise Women, instead of Three Wise Men, they would have asked directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, brought practical gifts, and looked great while doing it.
Let me clear up briefly a few things-The gospel of Matthew never says that the magi were only men. It never says that there were 3. They arrive in Bethlehem when Jesus is about 2, not when he’s born (as we show in every creche scene). And the family is living in a house-not the stable. Mark, Luke, and John never mention the magi-only in Matthew.
Let me tell you about Herod. his quest was to become King of Judah. He became king by making a deal with Rome. Herod was responsible for the end of the Hasmonean Priesthood, the people of power in Jerusalem, by having the High Priest attacked and having his ears cut off. Priests could not be handicapped and serve as high priests, so they were discredited. Herod would dress as a commoner, mingle with the crowds and talk about the King and his government. When someone indicated disapproval, they would be arrested and never heard of again. Herod was so suspicious that many of his court and even his family was executed after rumors of disloyalty were scattered. Eventually, gossip about his dear wife planning an overthrow caused him to have her killed. Herod was so vicious, Caesar even summoned him to Rome and told him not to be so violent.
It is a wonderful story though. A child in danger, wise astrologers seeking the child to honor him, an evil king out to get the child. Gifts of gold for a king, frankincense for worship, and myrrh the oil used for anointing the dead. Deception, betrayal, murder. Hollywood couldn’t have done any better.
But here is what captures me about the story-it is a story of wise people, searching people, seeking a star. That grabs me. I think most of us at one time or another in our lives have seen the star, had a vision, perceived a light that catches us, and holds us-if even for a short while.
There is a story told of a little girl whose mother had just given birth to a baby boy. The girl insists on being alone with her new brother when he is brought home. The parents, a little concerned, open the door a crack as their daughter goes into the baby’s room and moves up close to her new sibling and whispers, “Tell me again what God is like, I am starting to forget.”
There are times in my life when I am so sure, so certain that I am seeking Christ, that I am on the road, and I set my course and head out. And then one day I look around and I ask myself, “wow, was I going someplace? I think we are always being grabbed by guide posts, road markers, maps that take us towards Christ-but then-life gets in the way, a king invites us to dinner, we put things off for awhile, something happens and then –we wake up one day and wonder- was I really following a light? And we forget about the star and move on.
I bet you've heard the old joke about the guy on his hands and knees on the sidewalk one dark night. He is crawling around under a streetlight. His buddy comes up and says, “Hey, whatcha doing?” The first guy says, “I dropped my keys.” The buddy gets down on his knees, too, and says, “Well, about where did it happen?” The first guy says, “Oh, I lost them over there in the grass.” The buddy gets up and yells, “Then WHY are you looking HERE?” The first guy says: “But This is where the light is!”
The magi see the star and make it as far as the king’s palace. But it’s after dinner that the star appears again. This is what I learn, the star has to keep arising in our lives. We are so easily distracted, diverted from following the light, that if the star stops shining even for a little while, we stop following. We get lost in the dark, looking for the keys.
Matthew writes, (after talking with Herod)” they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was.“ I think the magi lost the star for awhile. Just like we do. We all lose the keys at times We all get sidetracked and lose our way. The star has to keep rising. The light has to keep coming back into our lives, we need those reminders shining over the house in Bethlehem. I’ve told you before, but do you remember what Bethlehem means? “House of Bread”. We all forget at times where to go to get fed.
The story of the wise ones, the astrologers from the east on a expedition to Bethlehem is supposed to represent all of us, all who live a long ways away who get easily lost, easily distracted and forget about the star while on life’s journey. The star is always shining, the light is always leading, sometimes we just lose our way. That is why we mark our doors every year, so that when we come in or go out, we will remember that a star is leading us home-sometimes by a different road. But always a light is taking us to the place where we can be fed.