Sermon Preached on 27 Dec 18 for St John's Feast Day

Sermon for the Feast of St John the Apostle 

dand Evangelist.

Today is the third day of Christmas. The Church celebrates the Feast of St. John, apostle and evangelist. John was a Galilean, son of Zebedee and Salome, and brother to James the
Greater.

Born in Bethsaida, in Gallilea, he was called with his Brother James, while mending their nets to follow Jesus. John became the beloved disciple of Jesus. .

His narrative on the pre-existence of the Word, (Jesus) who by His Incarnation became the light of the world and the life of our souls, are among the finest of the New Testament.

He is the evangelist of Christ’s Divinity, (fully human and fully God). and of His brotherly love.

With James, his brother, and Simon Peter, he was one of the witnesses of the Transfiguration.

At the Last Supper, he leans on the Master's breast.

At the foot of the cross, Jesus entrusts His Mother to his care.

John's pure life kept him very close to Jesus and Mary in years to come.

John remained for a long time in Jerusalem, but his later years were spent at Ephesus, whence he founded many churches in Asia Minor.

John wrote the fourth Gospel, three Epistles and the Apocalypse. after the other Evangelists, about sixty-three years after the Ascension of Christ;

John was brought to Rome from Ethesus and, according to tradition, was cast into a caldron of boiling oil by order of Emperor Domitian. he was miraculously preserved unhurt. John was subsequently exiled to the island of Patmos by the Emperor returning to Ephethus, after the Emperors death.

Jesus showed John particular instances of kindness and affection above all the rest. His presence with Peter and James at the Transfiguration , his to witness to Jesus’ agony in the Garden. His resting on the Savior’s Savior's breast and Jesus’ giving him the care of His holy Mother as He hung dying on the Cross demonstrate this.

John was the only one of the Apostles who did not forsake the Savior in the hour of His Passion and Death.

In John’s extreme old age he continued to visit the churches of Asia. St. Jerome tells us that when age and weakness grew upon him so that he was no longer able to preach to the people, he would be carried to the assembly of the faithful by his disciples, with great difficulty; and every time said to his flock only these words: "My dear children, love one another."

John died in peace at Ephesus in the third year of Trajan that is, the hundredth of the Christian era, or the sixty-sixth from the crucifixion of Christ, John then being about ninety-four years old, according to records of the time.

It is clearly a mystery how the Second person of the Blessed Trinity can take on human flesh and become fully human in the womb of a virgin. But it happened. And we accept the divinity of Jesus who was God made flesh in all his awesome mysterious majesty. We remember and venerate his Mother Mary, his Stepfather Joseph and the story of the shepherds, Magi, beasts and angels.

What John is saying is,

when you look at that baby, .

You see what God is like,

 and so

when you trace the story of this baby from the manger to the cross and beyond, you see God’s life.

You see what a perfect human life would look like, because you see God living one.

At this service we go even further.

As John himself reminded us in his Gospel, Jesus said, “Unless you eat on the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood,” you will have no life in you.”

At this Table of Grace, the Word who was from the beginning, took on flesh is symbolically in the elements consecrated here on Christmas Day.

We receive not just this flesh, not just his blood, but his soul and divinity as well.

Such a reality so exceeds our understanding that it can be accessed only through faith, trust, prayer and adoration.

But John’s message which we need every bit as much as his first hearers 2000 years ago is that God’s light housed in the fragile container of a new born baby is never overcome.

The Life death and resurrection of Jesus shows us that the light of God shines on despite the darkness. We need to stand firm in that hope in all the darkness that 2019 is sure to throw our way, particular/y with Brexit, to go on believing in the light, walking in the light and nurturing the light for others too.

I pray that we all will do so.

Amen

Sermon Preached at All Saints Belvedere on 18th Nov 2018

 Sermon for Sunday 18^th November 2018

Readings:

Daniel 12:1-3

Hebrews 10:11-13

Mark 13:1-8

May I speak in the Name of the Eternal Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen.

Sometimes when we get our Sunday readings, we find it difficult to work out why they were chosen together for a particular Sunday.

But today, the Old Testament Reading, Epistle and Gospel have a common theme. They talk of “things to come” what in theological terms is described as Apocalyptic es Khat ology, a term that is applied to prophecy of the God’s future plan, the destiny of God’s people, wrapped up in God, through Jesus’ teaching, often by metaphor, but never with a mixed methaphor (thank you Barry for your recent English lesson)

And in the context of our current time amid Brexit confusion, who could hope to predict what will happen, and where we will be in the days, weeks, years to come.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus explains the signs of things to come -

sort off?

Jesus spoke often about the end times and certainly not in ways supported by a modern or secular worldview. For Jesus, who knew that God has a plan, that he shared in from the start, was fundamental to his ministry.

Jesus was with the disciples in the temple.

As they came out, one of the disciples exclaimed his awe of the structure. “Look, Teacher, what large stones and large buildings!” he said (Mark 13:1). Ancient historians described the the temple in Jerusalem as magnificent. Of its massive size and stature much of which was covered in gold.

Jesus’ response must have surprised the disciples:

“Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down” (Mark 13:2).

The disciples must have been in a mood to discuss the end times because later, when Jesus was sitting opposite the temple on the Mount of Olives, they asked what he meant?

“When?” they wondered aloud,

“What will be the sign?”

Jesus’ response was just as surprising.

Jesus warns of those “false prophets that would lead them astray”.

He tells them not to be alarmed by “wars and rumors of wars” which, to you and me, would be pretty alarming.

.

A more troubling time would be coming, Jesus explains. It will include war, earthquakes and famines.

But they are not to be afraid since, “This is but the beginning of the birth pangs” (Mark 13:8) of God’s new Kingdom.

Jesus’ response might be thought of as similar to the famous WW2 Slogan “Keep Calm and Carry on” a slogan revived more recently by Dr Bex Lewis, a Anglican Theologian and social media lecturer in her book of the same name.

Bex was describing the history of Propoganda posters, whose purpose was to “Attract, Persuade and to suggest a course of action¹”

I am not suggesting that Jesus was propounding propoganda, but he was answering the disciples - allowing them to work out for themselves in time, the meaning of what he was saying.

Like the disciples, we would like to to know every detail about when and how our future — and God’s ultimate justice — will take place.

Certainly, if we can use science and technology to detect earthquake or hurricanes, it helps save lives, but the disciples were longing for more.

They wanted a signpost, much as we often do, particularly if our map is out of date, or our satnav isn’t working or reliable.

We know that God’s nature and purpose isn’t a route map, we have to discern it ourselves with the assistance of the Holy Spirit - and hope that we don’t lose our way.

In this passage from Mark, Jesus uses language and terms common in the old and new testament to help reveal what is currently hidden to the disciples. It was common, around Jesus’ time, to mix visions, symbols and dreams to disclose a future more important than the present reality.

In Mark 13:1-8, and the passages we heard in the Old Testament In our readings from Daniel and Hebrews, they described the longed for future in which oppression is a thing of the past, but they must not be read as detailed step-by-step directions to the end of times.

The coming times are sometimes described in vague, rough, violent terms, but the ultimate end is full of God’s justice and peace.

Trust in God means living a life expectant and hopeful for Christ’s return; we have to be careful not to try to explain every world event in terms of God’s plan. It could well be man made. Climate change being one example.

Discipleship calls for a faith in which ultimately, despite our present struggle, God’s love is sovereign.

We are called to live out our lives seeking to conform them to God’s vision of justice, love and peace.

Waiting for the End

Believers today take many different approaches to the end times. Some read into the Bible explanations that simply are not there, mislabeling hurricanes and natural disasters, and causing fear and panic unnecessarily.

Note that in this passage, Jesus does not suggest times ahead will be easy. In fact, he warns of the danger of false prophets. “Many will come in his name”, Jesus says, but “they are not he”.

The furore a few years ago about the predicted “Rapture” demonstrates the danger of false prophecy. The Rapture supposedly of the “chosen” 10,000 never happened, but thousands of believers sold their homes and possesions only to be disappointed.

Since we are so prone to confusion, Jesus explicitly advises against alarm and overreaction.

The faithful response to disaster is not pointing a finger, or making accusations, but service to God and neighbor.

Sadly, we know too that one day there will be another storm, another shooting, another earthquake.

We need to try to break the cycle of natural events, although being aware of how man’s interference with God’s creation may be the cause of some. But not interpreting these events in ways Jesus warned against.

Instead, we need to follow Jesus’ example; the one who healed at every opportunity, who urged care for those without food and shelter, who loved beyond all love even in the most desperate of times.

Jesus gave a vague answer as to when God will renew the world in God’s justice, but his instructions for caring for our neighbors were abundantly clear. When disasters hit, Jesus’ followers should get to work in prayer and action and leave the end time decisions to God alone.

I pray that we, you and I will be prepared for the end times, but not to worry to much about them just yet, in other words “Keep Calm and Carry on” doing what we do.

Amen

---

¹  to attract the attention ....Persuade....suggesting the desirability of a course of action.

Lewis, Bex. Keep Calm and Carry On (Kindle Location 86). G2 Rights Ltd. Kindle Edition.

Lewis, Bex. Keep Calm and Carry On (Kindle Location 85). G2 Rights Ltd. Kindle Edition.

Retirement of a Respected Distinctive Deacon.

I attended an event last evening to celebrate Black History Month, but also to celebrate the 70th Birthday and Retirement from licensed ministry of Ann, a Distinctive Deacon in our Deanery, who I was also licensed to work alongside.

Ann has been an inspiration in faith and spirituality since I met her about 11 years ago, when she was an Ordinand in Training.  Visiting her church, I heard her preach and thought that I would like to hear more from her.  That started a friendship which continues today.

At the time, I was in discernment for Ordained Ministry, which sadly came to nothing, But she supported me in my struggle with a diocese that seemed not to know how to care for a failed Ordinand and to their discredit, actually ignored my pleas for another way forward.

So, after a change of diocese and selection for Reader(LLM) training, I was able to speak with Ann, by than, ordained and serving her own curacy, which due to the death of her training incumbent, meant a change of church and a new direction for her ministry.  I supported her in her ongoing ministry development and she supported me through my own travails and ups and downs of ministry training.  I, aged 64 had started my course with no academic qualifications and had not written a formal essay for well over 58 years, since leaving school at 16.

She, along with my incumbent, congregation and spiritual director cheered me on and encouraged me, even while she dealt with the death of her father and brother in the same year and having to sort out their affairs as the sole survivor of her family. 

Ann always has a positive outlook, despite all of the blows that life deals her.  Her faith is rock solid and her prayer life is deep and profound.  This enables her to overcome much, that many of us would wilt in the wake off.

She also has the ability to be inspired with ideas for the greater good of the poor, vulnerable and downtrodden and the interpersonal skills to share those ideas and invite people she meets to join in. This is building of community, but also God's Kingdom, and I was drawn in, as have many others.

A number of community projects started have become stand-a-lone and able to function within their own resources, and I have been privileged to be part of this ministry for the last five years.

So, prayers for Ann as she considers her future. Whether PTO in her current situation or whether to return to her native North and find a new path there.  Hard decisions to make as she has been part of our local community and church in many capacities for nearly 35 years.

God has blessed her ministry, late in life, and I believe that he will continue to do so, whatever shape or form or place that is takes.

Homily on 27 September 2018 - St Vincent De Paul

Homily for Thursday 27^th September 2018 -

Feast of St Vincent De Paul

Readings:

Isaiah 58:6-11a

Matthew 25:34-40

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to you O God, my Saviour and Redeemer, Amen

St. Vincent De Paul’s extraordinary life began in 1561 in the village of Pouy, France. From his humble beginnings as the child of peasant farmers St. Vincent would one day become an adviser to the Queen of France, and from preaching one mission to peasants in 1613at the age of 29, his life was changed. 

Summoned to hear the dying confession of a peasant on the estate of the wealthiest family in the city, Vincent was profoundly moved by the man’s faith and by his need, and experienced a new understanding of the seriousness of his own vocation as a shepherd of souls. From that day onward, he was determined that his priesthood would be dedicated to the service of the poor.

St. Vincent went on to found an order of priests who would continue this work all over the world.

Travelling abroad, he was taken captive by Pirates and sold as a slave. After spending two years as a slave in Tunisia, he managed to escape and he returned to France and became a missionary to prisoners in Paris and Marseilles, and he was instrumental in the ransom of over 1,000 Christian slaves from North Africa.

He began hospitals, he founded communities where the poor could work to support themselves, and he set up homes for orphans.

As a result of his devotion to the poor, the sick, and the imprisoned he is the patron of charitable organizations and he is called the “Apostle of Charity.”

Both Isiah and Jesus in today’ old testament reading and the Gospel tells us that those who work for the poor, the sick and imprisoned will be blessed in heaven:

 "Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me."

St. Vincent de Paul’s Congregation of the Missions were first known as the Lazarist Fathers – and while he would employ them very successfully in the formation of clergy, their original mission was to the rural poor whom Vincent found “troubled and abandoned like sheep without a shepherd”.  

Like Jesus, Vincent’s heart was also moved with pity for all the “troubled and abandoned” of his time which included not only the rural poor, but the poor in the cities as well as convicts and slaves.

Vincent found Christ in the poor. His spirituality was based on the encounter with Christ in the needs of one’s poor neighbors. In one of his letters, he describes this new way of seeing that had been revealed to him:

“Christ chose to be born in poverty and called his disciples from among the ranks of the poor; he himself became the servant of the poor and so shared their condition that whatever good or harm was done to the poor, he said he would consider done to himself. Since God loves the poor, he also loves the lovers of the poor… We visit them then, we strive to concern ourselves with the weak and needy, we so share their sufferings that with the Apostle Paul we feel we have become all things to all people. Therefore we must strive to be deeply involved in the cares and sorrows of our neighbor and pray to God to inspire us with compassion and pity, filling our hearts and keeping them full.”¹

Vincent devoted his life to this work, trusting in Jesus and the Holy Spirit to inspire it and to allow his influence on the great and good to enroll their assistance in supporting this vital work.

His evident success was due to a personal humility and belief that enabled him to acheive great things.

As we come to the Table of Grace today for Holy Communion we are reminded that our commitment as disciples of Jesus is to to work for peace and justice in the world, and is born of a person, Jesus Christ. In solidarity with him, we engage in the world of pain as our commitment to those whose needs are desperate and who deserve to share in the good news and Peace of Jesus Christ.

This solidarity may be seen by each of us working out our relationships with Jesus as Lord and Saviour and with each other as we live our lives day to day.

God takes the side of the poor, the oppressed, the marginalized – through their works of mercy, the saints –like Vincent de Paul – show us that we too can and must take their side as well. If we strive to do this than in Isaih’s words

 “then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. The Lord will guide you continually”

Amen

---

¹  Atwell, Robert (compiler); Celebrating the Saints: Devotional Readings for Saints’ Days; (Norwich [England]: Canterbury Press, 1998); p.338.

Sermon Preached on Sunday 26th Aug 2018 at All Saints' Church, Belvedere

Sermon for Sunday 26th August 2018

Readings:

Joshua 24.1-2a & 14-18

Eph 6:10-20

John 6:56-69

May I speak in the Name of the Eternal Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen

In todays’s Gospel, we continue the theme of the last four weeks where we’ve heard Chapter six from John’s Gospel. Jesus has spoken of himself as the Bread of Life and of the need to eat his flesh and drink his blood in order to have eternal life.

The paradox or of this chapter is perhaps the difference between those who despite their doubts, believe that Jesus was sent by the Father and therefore the Messiah, and those who find it hard to believe, and eventually decide that it’s too hard and leave. it also reflects some of the rejection by Jesus’ own people of his teaching, a rejection that eventually took him to the Cross.

It reflects the dilemma that faces everyone who is a follower of Jesus, perhaps like doubting Thomas, needed to see before he believed¹, yet we who have not seen, but believe, are blessed as Jesus told the disciples before his ascension².

Yet, among the apparent rejection, God continues to work with the word of Truth and life, through Jesus, who isn’t about to back down.

What we believe is at is at the centre of our Lives as Christians. Our current Pilgrim course on the Creeds has reflected how deeply felt individuals beliefs are, but also how complex the concept of what we are called to believe can be.

My own simple description of this dilema would be

 We in Christ and he in us³.

I make connections with the great old Hymn, Abide with Me.

When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, oh, Lord abide with me!

Later in John’s Gospel, Jesus also tells us that he came to bring us life in all of it’s fullness⁴;

Jesus demonstrated his compassion for others, he associated with the poor, vulnerable and outcasts of the society in his own time⁵. He tells us to care for each other, particularly the foreigner, or stranger⁶. he described that care in the parable of the “Good Samaritan⁷⁸”.

Today’s gospel tells us of his concern for the eternal life of all of God’s people, and he chose language which deliberately challenged his listeners to highlight it.

 Some of Jesus’ followers were uneasy with what he had been saying, it all seemed to hard to do, or to understand. They left⁹

‘This is intolerable language’, some of the Apostles grumbled, ‘How could anyone accept it?¹⁰’

Jesus knew full well they were grumbling, Yet, he did not make any effort to soften his teaching in order to hold on to his followers. ¹¹.

He insists that the words he has been speaking, all his words, are “spirit and life”. He wasn’t failing in his teaching, the crowd and followers were failing in their ability to accept and to understand it.

Jesus turned to the remaining Twelve apostles, his core group, and asked them, ‘What about you? Do you want to go away too¹²?’

He was prepared to suffer losses even from that core group rather than compromise on the teaching that he had given, to do otherwise would have been a betrayal of the words of truth that he spoke. Truth received from his Father.

You will note that Jesus is giving his disciples a choice?

His whole ministry has been about giving those who hear his teaching choices, one way to eternal life is through him. Any other way, may mean seperation from him for ever.

Peter’s response was telling , ‘Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God¹³.’

Jesus had lost a whole swathe of his following, but not the twelve selected disciples¹⁴. Yet, later, at the time of his passion Judas betrayed him¹⁵ and Peter denied him.

If success is to be measured by numbers, by the end of his earthly life, in human terms Jesus might have been seen as a failure, but we know that is far from the truth. After Pentecost, his followers quickly numbered in hundreds and thousands.

Jesus died to give us new eternal life and we are the fortunate recipients of that sacrifice.

Jesus’ life shows us that the value of something does not bear any necessary relation to the number of people who support it. Popularity does not necessarily show where truth is to be found.

God is working in the midst of our apparent failure and rejection. The church is still called to see that that the Word of Life is doing its work around us, among us, and within us.

We follow Jesus not because he was or is popular but because, in the words of Peter in the gospel, we recognize that he has the message of eternal life, or in the language of Jesus himself in that same reading, we acknowledge that the words that he speaks are ‘spirit and life’.

We will find some of Jesus’ teaching very challenging. We may be tempted to say, in the words of some of the disciples, ‘This is intolerable language. How can anyone accept it?’

The prophet Isaiah, wrote “God’s thoughts are not our thoughts; God’s ways are not our ways¹⁶”.

It has been said that “Jesus comforts the afflicted¹⁷ and afflicts the comfortable”^{18 19}.

We all need Jesus to do both for us.

We need his comforting and sustaining presence when we are afflicted, but sometimes we need his disturbing presence in our comfort.

It has been said that the true sign from God in Chapter 6 of John’s

gospel is Jesus’ broken body and blood, which flows from his Riven side²⁰.

The teaching and the life, death and Resurrection of Jesus challenges us to believe in faith.

The presence of Peter the denier and of Judas the betrayer, at the end of this text is a striking note of hope. Our natural inclination is to turn and leave, to avoid the difficult call and above all to avoid the cross. Yet the Word, the Spirit, and the Father continue to call, and enlighten, and draw us to new life.

The Eucharist is the primary moment when we commit ourselves again to the Lord’s vision for our lives; it is our weekly opportunity to make our own those words of Peter in today’s gospel, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the message of eternal life.’

I pray that we will continually receive that message of eternal life.

Amen

---

¹  John 20: 24-29

²  John 20:29

³  John 14:20

⁴  John 10:10

⁵  Matthew 9:10-17,Mark 2:15-22,Luke 5:29-39

⁶  Matt 25:25-36

⁷  Luke 10:25-37

^{8  10} And as he sat at dinner^[a] in the house, many tax-collectors and sinners came and were sitting^[b] with him and his disciples. ¹¹ When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax-collectors and sinners?’ ¹² But when he heard this, he said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. ¹³ Go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.’

⁹  John 6:64

¹⁰  John 6:60

¹¹  John 6:62

¹²  John 6:67

¹³  Jon 60:69

¹⁴  John 6:66

¹⁵  Luke 22, Matt 26, John 13:18-30

¹⁶  Isaiah, 55:8-9

¹⁷  James 1:9

¹⁸  Finley Peter Dunne, 20^th Century Humourist about 1910.

¹⁹  James 1:10

²⁰  Quoted from CT 24^th Aug 18, Item on the weekly readings.

Quiet Day at Burswood for Lay Ministers

Spiritual Wellbeing Quiet Day for Lay Ministers

Burrswood Wednesday 15^th August 2018

I attended the above event at Burswood, along side the Warden of Lay Ministers for Rochester Diocese and 19 other Licensed Lay Ministers from across the diocese. These ranged from LLM’s. Readers and Pastoral Assistants, from a disparate range of parishes, but united in purpose and prayer.

The Quiet Day was led and facilitated by the, Director of Spiritual Well being at Burswood.

The programme was well thought out, running from 10 am through to 3 pm, with breaks for reflection, worship (Holy Communion) with two taught sessions, and

other activities to allow time and space for personal prayer, individual and group sharing and networking.

There were more than adequate refreshments provided on arrival and available during the morning, and excellent self-service lunch and more refreshments available during the after noon. Those attending were free to use the facilities of Burswood at the end of the official agendered program up to 4.30 pm. A fee (or donation) of £30 was requested. I applied for a Continuing Ministry Development (CMD) grant, which was granted, so no personal cost to myself, apart from travel.

The content on Spiritual, physical and emotional well being was delivered gently and at a pace, that could be readily absorbed. Much of this might have been known to some of us, who have pre-existing conditions necessitating special care of diet and other aspects of personal health and well being, but was relevant and it as good to be reminded of the things that I am already doing, but also on things that I hadn’t really thought about before. I was particularly taken with the Communion service, which was completed by anointing with oils and blessing.

Materials provided to take away, gave us all some practical reading, as they were well illustrated and self explanatory. I intend to take some of those things into practice myself.

Overall, people quickly gelled, Many attending knew each other, while I was a relative stranger, knowing only the Warden and one other, from those attending. But it was obvious from the outset that people were keen to share and to get to know each other, and as we had a list of those attended for reference, with contact details, it means that future networking is a real possibility.

In the past, I have pondered on why, Clergy have a Chapter, there is nothing similar for Lay Ministers, unless they organise it for themselves. One thing that I take away from this Quiet Day, is that all lay ministers would benefit from Quiet Days of this sort, perhaps organised on a Deanery basis. At least food for thought for the future. I appreciate this will take some organizing, but we have the nucleus for local deaneries with the Assistant Wardens as a focal point. Perhaps a few willing individuals could offer or feel called to organize such an event.

I came away from the day, buzzing quietly, spiritually nourished and keen to seek more opportunities to broaden my spiritual horizons alongside contemporaries in Lay Ministry in the future. Given that my parish will shortly be in vacancy, this might not be in the short term, but I have resolved to continue to make time and space for such reflection, starting with my planned three day retreat in September.

Sermon Preached on 7 Jan 2018

Sermon Epiphany 7 Jan 2018

It’s a Mystery?

May I speak in the Name of the eternal Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

One of my favourite singers is ‘Toyah Wilcox’ . Her first hit record was a song, called “It’s a Mystery¹”. released as a single in 1995, it went to the top of the charts. It went something like this? (You will be glad to know, I won’t be singing it)

“Somewhere in the distance
Hidden from view
Suspended in the atmosphere
Waiting to come through
Sometimes it's so far away
Sometimes it's very near
sound being carried by the wind
Just loud enough to hear
feel its power within me
Bells ringing in my head
So often I have heard its cry
But forgotten what it said
It's a mystery, it's a mystery
I'm still searching for a clue
It's a mystery to me
shot in the dark
The big question mark in history
Is it a mystery to you”?

the opening line from the reading from Isaiah 60²

“Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the Glory of the Lord has risen upon you”, today, which seems apt for the day when we celebrate Epiphany, and the visit of the Magi (wise men) to Jesus. It’s a familiar story, yet in Toyah’s words, it’s also a bit of a mystery.

One of the enduring images of the Christmas season is that of the Magi or wise men³ travelling by camel through a star lit night. Let us try to put it into the context of the time?

· A star (or bright light) dominates the sky The journey is almost over. It’s been a long trip from a country far away in the east. There have been dangers along the way and now they are at the town of where Jesus with his parents.

· The MAGI⁴ look down from the star in the sky to the building lying below in its light. This is where they will find the child born King of the Jews that they had read about in the Scriptures⁵.

This narrative of the Magi is popular. We place three characters around the manger with the shepherds who have come to the stable to see the Christ Child. .. we narrow the time-span of events and incorporate Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus, the shepherds and Magi into one scene. Which is convenient but wrong!

It’s thought that the Magi arrived some time after Jesus’ birth in a stable. Perhaps up to a year or so after? Another possibility is that the Magi visited Jesus in Nazareth, after his presentation in the Temple, on the 40^th day, described in Lukes Gospel?⁶. Where we get the wonderful “Prayer of Simeon’ and testimony of Anna.

Joseph and Mary returned to Nazareth, not to Bethlehem.

This makes sense to me, as:

· Herod ordered the killing of every male child up to the age of two years old in Bethlehem, when the Magi didn’t return to him.

· God’s warning to Joseph in a dream, led to the flight to Egypt.

· When the Magi visited Jesus, he is no longer referred to as a baby and

· Matthews Gospel tell us that the Magi found the family in a house⁷.

There are a lot of things that we don’t know about these magi such as:

· how many there were, presumed to be three, because of the three gifts?

· what their names were? ,  names used are speculative at best⁸⁹.

· where they came from exactly? Historical evidence is that they were from Persia, but this is not confirmed in the Gospels.

· and how far they travelled following the star? If it was Persia, it would have been a journey of at least 800 miles - quite a journey by Camel. (Probably travelling in a Caravan accompanied by Armed Soldiers)¹⁰.

Magi do feature elsewhere in the Old Testament in particular in Jeremiah 39;3¹¹, when King Nebuchadrezzar’s Officials came to Jerusalm after it’s conquest and dealt with the subsequent fallout and dispersal of the people of Israel to Babylon.

We hear that the Magi studied the stars and were familiar with the Hebrew Scriptures but Matthew doesn’t give us anymore than that. We do know that Learned Eastern people, often from wealthy backgrounds, were familiar with the stars, medicine and nature and were well informed through study, to advise rulers, from early times.

But it remains a mystery to ponder on.

One of the facts that Matthew does give us is that the magi came with special gifts for the new born king, he tells us in Verse 11 and 12.

“They went into the house, and when they saw the child with his mother Mary, they knelt down and worshiped him. They brought out their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and presented them to him¹²."

Gold, frankincense and myrrh – representing Kingship, Divinity and the Eternal rule of the new born Christ Child.

Some have speculated that these gifts were the principal items used in wizardry and magic that Magi from the east dabbled in? In giving the Christ-child gold, frankincense and myrr, they were surrendering their tools of trade.

I am not so sure? I think that they’d found a new guiding star – the Christ child.. Matthew simply gave us the facts¹³. 

 

To us these might seem rather strange gifts. but what do you give this child who is the all-powerful God incarnate - who controls the stars to such an extent that a particularly bright star travels westward and stops over the place where Jesus and his parents were at? 

When the Lord of the universe reaches down from heaven and touches the earth, condescends in love to come to us, in the flesh, as one of us, a defenceless baby come to do deliver our salvation on the Cross., what do you give?

This was one of the things that amazed Paul, in his Epistle to the Ephsians offers us some of his insight¹⁴:

“and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.”

That word, Mystery again?

The magi with their gifts might have worried that they were not worthy for the child in the manger,..... God who has become a human and now rests in his mother’s arms - this didn’t phase them - they Knelt and worshiped the Christ Child and offered what they had, ......... that was most precious to them.

Maybe that’s just the point.

We, like the magi, may feel unworthy to receive the awesomeness of God’s love in the child Jesus, we may struggle to find a gift to give in return? ...............All we can do is, like those men from the east, give what we have?

Maybe that's always the way it is with our gifts to God?

· Our witness pointing too Jesus Christ.

· Our worship - our Prayer, praise, our music and singing and liturgy.

· this church building - a holy, safe place of sanctuary in God.

· Our generosity in terms of time, gifts, money offered to the Glory of God.

· Our love and care for one another and all who come seeking.

· Our care and conservation of God’s beautiful Creation.

· they are all that we have to give.

This reminds me of that time later at Bethany, where Jesus went, just before his arrest. Mary of Bethany, the sister of Lazarus, extravagantly uses a whole jar of expensive Nard perfume on Jesus’ feet¹⁵.. The disciples cry, "What a waste!" But Jesus says, "Let her alone. She has done a beautiful thing, anointing me for my burial."

Jesus is about to make a really extravagant gift on the cross, and so accepts Mary’s extravagant gift. .....................Mary expressed her love for Jesus in an unreserved and unrestrained way. What Mary did wasn’t wasteful – Like the Magi she gave the best of what she had.

 If we were to make a new year’s resolution that things will be different in the coming year, how can we make a difference? Perhaps a question to reflect on as we leave this gathering and go out into the world?

The challenge in front of each of us is to make each breathing mo

ment a gift worth giving to the King. God gave himself to us because

he loves us, worthy or unworthy, the mystery of all of this is in Toyahs

words: is

Hidden from view
Suspended in the atmosphere
Waiting to come through
Sometimes it's so far away
Sometimes it's very near
sound being carried by the wind
Just loud enough to hear
feel its power within me
Bells ringing in my head

 I pray that the mystery’s hidden in God, now revealed, will continue inspire us to love him in return and ponder on the Mystery that is the Incarnation, life, death and resurrection of our Saviour, Jesus Christ as we journey together this year.

Amen¹⁶

Pope Francis, preaching on the Epiphany on Thursday this week said. LLike the Magi, believers are led by faith to seek God in the most hidden places, knowing that the Lord waits for them there.

---

¹  ©ToyahWilcox 1995

²  Isaiah 60-1

³ In the Hebrew text of the Old Testament the word occurs but twice, and then only incidentally. ( Jeremiah 39:3 Jeremiah 39:13 ) "Originally they were a class of priests among the Persians and Medes who formed the kings privy council, and cultivated as trology, medicine and occult natural science. They are frequently referred to by ancient authors. Afterward the term was applied to all eastern philosophers." --Schaffs Popular Commentary. They appear in Herodotus history of Astyages as interpreters of dreams, i. 120; but as they appear in Jeremiah among the retinue of the Chaldean king, we must suppose Nebuchadnezzars conquests led him to gather round him the wise men and religious teachers of the nations which he subdued, and that thus the sacred tribe of the Medes rose under rule to favor and power. The Magi took their places among "the astrologers and star gazers and monthly prognosticators." It is with such men that, we have to think of Daniel and his fellow exiles as associated. The office which Daniel accepted ( Daniel 5:11 ) was probably rab-mag --chief of the Magi.The word presented itself to the Greeks as connected with a foreign system of divination and it soon became a byword for the worst form of imposture. This is the predominant meaning of the word as it appears in the New Testament. ( Acts 8:9 ;13:8 )

⁴ plural noun, singular Magus  [mey-guh s] (Show IPA)1.(sometimes lowercase) the wise men, generally assumed to be threein number, who paid homage to the infant Jesus. Matt. 2:1–12..Compare Balthazar (def 1), Caspar (def 1), Melchior (def 1).2.(sometimes lowercase) the class of Zoroastrian priests in ancientMedia and Persia, reputed to possess supernatural powers.

⁵  How then did they know to come to Jerusalem? The straight answer is that we do not know, but can only speculate. These types of wise men were diligent to discover what signs and omens meant. And if they had recourse to the holy books of Israel, which they very well could have had in the east since Babylon remained a center of Jewish studies, they might have come across the prophecy of Balaam, an early prophet from the east who had predicted that a star would march forth in Israel (Num. 24:17).

⁶ Luke 2:39

⁷ Matt 2:10-11

⁸ They were of noble birth, educated, wealthy, and influential. They were philosophers, the counselors of rulers, learned in all the wisdom of the ancient East. The wise men who came seeking the Christ child were not idolaters; they were upright men of integrity.They had apparently studied the Hebrew Scriptures and found there a clear transcript of truth. In particular, the Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament must have claimed their attention, and among these they found the words of Balaam: “A Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel” (Numbers 24:17, NKJV). They certainly were acquainted with the prophecy of Micah: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel” (Micah 5:2, NKJV; see also Matthew 2:5, 6). They probably also knew and understood the time prophecy of Daniel regarding the appearance of the Messiah (see Daniel 9:25, 26) and came to the conclusion that His coming was near.

⁹  By the sixth century, the had been given names and descriptions, often seen in artistic representations. One is named Caspar, meaning “Treasurer,” and is imagined as a beardless young man. Melchior means “King of Light,” or “King of the City,” and is portrayed as a bearded old man. Balthasar means “God protect the king,” is portrayed as a black African man.

¹⁰  Recent speculartion from discovered manuascipts is that they came from China. Landau B, The Revelation of the Magi, Harper Collins, New York, 2013.

¹¹   When Jerusalem was taken, all the officials of the king of Babylon came and sat in the middle gate: Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim the Rabsaris, Nergal-sharezer the Rabmag, with all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon.

¹² Matt 2:11

¹³  The word magus is of Persian origin; however, Basil indicated that they were not confined to a specific empire but “scattered all over the country.” First-century Jewish historian Philo referred to Balaam from Numbers 22–24 as a magus. This anachronism indicates that by the first century A.D. it may have been adopted for more general use. Herodotus’s accounts of magi in his Histories (440 B.C.) portrays them as conniving political figures vying for royal power. Various kings in the ancient world frequently consulted these men because of their skill in interpreting omens, signs, and the stars.

¹⁴  Eph 3:10-12

¹⁵ Matt 26,:6-13, Mark 14,9 ohn 12.:1-8

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