The Epiphany of our Lord

This week the church celebrates the Epiphany of our Lord. The Gospel lesion is Matthew 2.1-12 where the Magi come from the east, find the baby Jesus, and bow down and worship him. The Epiphany can have a couple of foci. It can emphasize God’s self-revelation. That is, when God first revealed to the world that this baby was not ordinary baby, but was indeed the Messiah, the son of God. It can also emphasize the revelation of God’s mission to the world. The Magi, you see, were gentile. Read in such a way, the story reveals that God’s message of Good News is for all people. That includes you and me!

In both cases, the common theme is an epiphany. An epiphany is an aha moment when you get it. Like when you tell a joke and you can tell the instant the hearer gets it by watching their face. That moment of getting it, is an epiphany. Or perhaps it could be compared to the proverbial light bulb coming on in your head. When the light dawns, that is an epiphany (perhaps this is a more Biblical understanding as the OT lesson from Isaiah tells, “Arise! Shine! For the light has come!”).

In the gospel story there are three groups (or persons) who are confronted with the reality of the Baby Jesus. The obvious one is the Magi. They come seeking a king and find a Messiah. They have an epiphany as they illustrate the proper response to the presence of Christ in our world… they bow and worship. The second person is King Herod. He has an epiphany too. He realizes who this child is and he is afraid. He plots and schemes to destroy the presence of Christ in the world. Both the Magi and the King have their own epiphanies, and both respond, albeit in different ways.

The truly intriguing characters in all of this are the Chief-Priests and the Scribes. This group of the religious elite – the experts, the pastors, the scholars – never seem to see it. They are gathered by Herod, informed of the events, and asked where this baby was to be born. Like good and pious men, they quote scripture and tell Herod where the Messiah is to be born, but for them, the light never comes on. They never get it. They never share in the epiphany.

I wonder why not? I wonder why those so well trained, so well educated, who have spent their whole lives learning their scriptures and traditions, who are the backbone of the establishment, miss it entirely? Is there a lesson for us in that? Is there a lesson for us who have been in the church our whole lives? Is there a lesson for us who know the scripture and the tradition so well? Is there a lesson for us who are the backbone of the Christian community?

What do you think?