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God is alive and magi-c is afootSunday, January 3, 2016
Matthew 2:10-12 Bully that he was, Herod took out his anger on the baby boys of Bethlehem and massacred them, the innocent. But nothing could allay his fear. And his nightmares eventually, gradually, became true. He died. His family lost their power. From dust Herod came, and to dust Herod returned. Over the centuries, the magi's experience came to be called "epiphany." Epiphany comes out of the blue. It is a "sudden, intuitive perception into the essential meaning of something." Epiphany gives me goose-bumps. Epiphany rushes at me, into me, and through me. My job is to stay out of its way and let it flow. And above all, avoid Herod's response: don't try to control it or think it to death. All this to say the obvious, that these epiphanal moments are wonderful, often life-changing, and always from God. The magi "were overjoyed at seeing the star." They didn't ask what was the meaning of the star; they just followed it. And then they listened to their dreams and left for their country "by another way." Lord, I know we try to think your mysteries into careful, controlled cubbyholes of small and ultimately ugly understanding. Protect us, Father, from this counterfeit of what you've made our minds to do. Let us listen closer to what we don't understand, and then get out of the way. When we feel goosebumps on our skin, show us that they come from you. |
You know how angry Herod was when he realized the magi were not coming back. Herod was terrified he would lose his kingdom, terrified that he would not live forever, and therefore his anger knew no bounds.