“The Glory of the Lord Has Risen Upon You”
“The Glory of the Lord Has Risen Upon You” Isaiah 60:1
a sermon by Pastor Sonja Dalglish for First Presbyterian Church, Weslaco
January 2, 2010
Isaiah 60:1-6, Psalm 72:1-7,10-14, Ephesians 3:1-12, Matthew 2:1-12
focus: Magi responded with wonder and adventure while Herod responded with fear.
function: To encourage people to come to Jesus, bringing all of themselves, their material wealth (gold), their worship (frankincense) and their sorrows (myrrh).
Introduction
Today we will celebrate Epiphany, which will actually be this Thursday, January sixth. It is the day set aside for celebrating the identity of Jesus as the Son of God. This was for many years the second most important day of the church year, second only to Easter. Christmas came along about the year 600 and has not been celebrated in its present form until the late 1800’s.
In the Western church, this day of Epiphany became the day that we also celebrated the nations coming to Jesus and acknowledging him, in the form of the Magi. In the Orthodox Church, they celebrate Epiphany with the texts of Jesus baptism when the clouds are torn apart and the voice says that this is the Son of God.
We consider the Magi as important figures because they were learned people who were not Jews, not people of faith. They saw something that made them want to know more. They left their home to travel to see this new king who was born into the world.
We do not know how long it took the Magi to come to Israel and inquire at the palace where to find the new born king. We don’t even know how many wise men there were on this journey. Through the ages, Christians have talked and painted as few as two or as many as two hundred magi coming to find the babe. As you can see in the slides, most pictures show three Magi. On rare occasions, you’ll see that one looks like a woman – in some nativity sets you’ll see that as well. I have this little comic strip from agnusdei.com for you – two sheep discussing the wise men stopping by the palace.
In our reading from Isaiah, the prophet is reassuring the people that God loves them and there will be good things in their future. He says, “The glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” And, he says, “Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”
These words echo in the rising of the star seen by the wise men from the east. These were wise men from other nations, who were possibly the forerunners of our astronomers and scientists. They realized something new and amazing was happening. They wanted to know more and so set out on a journey across the nations to investigate.
The Gospel Text
How adventurous are we? Are we as adventurous as the Magi – or as fearful as Herod? All around us things are happening. How do we respond and react to new things and changing times?
Herod’s reaction to the Magi’s news of the star and the birth of a new king was the opposite from the Magi. Because he was the King in power, he had a lot to lose. Herod was a man who loved power and feared losing it. He had already killed one of his wives out of jealousy and two or three of his sons. When the Magi do not return to him, he sends his men out to kill all the boys under two years old so that he would not have to worry about a threat to his throne. Little did he know that in a few years, in 4 A.D., he would die of natural causes and the kingdom would no longer be his, anyway. And, he would have lost the chance to celebrate the wondrous events that God has put into motion.
What Does this Tell Us About God and about People?
This passage reminds us that God acts first, giving blessings, in the form of the infant, Jesus, and guidance in the form of the star and dreams. Both the wise men and Joseph receive dreams warning them about Herod. The wise men go home another way while Joseph takes Mary and the infant Jesus to Egypt until after Herod dies.
The wise men showed a sense of wonder and adventure in following this star they had studied.. I’ve been reading a book calledFailure of Nerve by Edwin Friedman. He contrasts the attitudes and emotional climate of our nation in recent years to that of the time of exploration when this continent was discovered and colonized. One of the big differences between that time and ours, he claims, is that people in the 1500’s had a sense of wonder and adventure, as well as a sense of responsibility. Today, we have a huge need for safety and security. Adventure and safety do not go well together.
The Bible tells of another time when someone heard about a person of faith, in this case King Solomon. The Queen of Sheba travelled to see if what she had heard was true. She was amazed and returned to her people filled with joy.
Over and over again, in the scriptures, God calls people to step out, investigate, like the shepherds, the Queen of Sheba, and the Magi. Without the sense of adventure, the wise men would never have made the trip. Herod, however, had no sense of adventure or wonder about the star and the child. Instead, what concerned him was the security of his throne and position.
As a church, will we respond with wonder and a sense of adventure for what lies ahead? Or will we be worried about preserving the church as we know it, with the songs and buildings and structures that have served us well. Will we have the courage to let go of the need for security so that we be filled with wonder and a sense of awe and risk an adventure.
As they came adventuring, the wise men brought gifts with them: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These can be symbolic of what all people are invited to bring to God. People from every nation can come bearing gifts. Gold both then and now stands for material wealth. Frankincense was an incense used in worship. Myrrh was a spice used in burials. We are invited to come and worship, bringing all we have, our joys and our sorrows, our riches and ourselves. Bring what you have and offer it to him.
Conclusion:
On this first Sunday of 2011, I hope that part of what you offer this day is your gratitude for this past calendar year. I’ve provided you with an insert asking you to name some things you really liked. What did you especially like last year, was it a special event, regular or special worship services, the music program or the children’s program, fellowship times, educational opportunities, or perhaps a mission that you think touched people, or some opportunity that you took to help – teaching, cooking? What things did you like – what did we do well as a community?
And, if there is one thing that you want to see us do more of, name it at the bottom of your sheet. As we go forward, it is important that we pause to see who we are and what we’ve done that is good. We need to see who we are and what gifts we have available to bring to Jesus and lay at the manger. Thinking like Magi, What kind of gold do we have to offer the king?
Next Sunday, we will be ordaining and installing officers, both deacons and elders. And at noon next Sunday, we will have training for the deacons. Serving the church in these capacities is like bringing gifts to God, just as the Magi brought gifts to Jesus.
Let us, today, be glad that we are like the Magi and can come and worship the king with wonder in our hearts. We give thanks for all the brothers and sisters in the faith, those present with us in body and those in spirit. We can go forward knowing that God is doing amazing things around us and through us. Let us not have our nerve fail us – instead we can look for ways to participate in what God is doing in this world. I pray that we may be filled with a longing for adventure and, like the Magi, our hearts will be filled with joy!
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________-
References:
Information about Herod the Great from Wikipedia article
Friedman, Edwin, Failure of Nerve
Revised Common Lectionary Readings for
Thursday, January 6, 2011, the Epiphany of the Lord (Year A)
Gospel Matthew 2:1-12
1In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” 3When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him;4and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 6‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’”
7Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” 9When they had heard the king, 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. 10When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
First Reading Isaiah 60:1-6
1Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. 2For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. 3Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
4Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses’ arms. 5Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. 6A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD.
Psalm Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14
1Give the king your justice, O God,
and your righteousness to a king’s son.
2May he judge your people with righteousness,
and your poor with justice.
3May the mountains yield prosperity for the people,
and the hills, in righteousness.
4May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,
give deliverance to the needy,
and crush the oppressor.
5May he live while the sun endures,
and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.
6May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,
like showers that water the earth.
7In his days may righteousness flourish
and peace abound, until the moon is no more.
10May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles
render him tribute,
may the kings of Sheba and Seba
bring gifts.
11May all kings fall down before him,
all nations give him service.
12For he delivers the needy when they call,
the poor and those who have no helper.
13He has pity on the weak and the needy,
and saves the lives of the needy.
14From oppression and violence he redeems their life;
and precious is their blood in his sight.
Second Reading Ephesians 3:1-12
1This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles-2for surely you have already heard of the commission of God’s grace that was given me for you, 3and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words, 4a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ. 5In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: 6that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
7Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God’s grace that was given me by the working of his power. 8Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ, 9and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; 10so 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. 11This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him.
