God’s Among Us. The rest is up to us. Epiphany, 2018

+Today we’re observing the Feast of the Epiphany instead of the Baptism of Christ. I asked Fr Sam to do this because the Epiphany is easily overlooked. And I don’t want to overlook it. I want us to consider just what this birth of Christ meant 2000 years ago and what it means to us. Here. Now.
As the Magi approached Bethlehem, King Herod noticed. And he wasn’t pleased. Herod knew something about these Zoroastrian star-gazers from the East. He knew that it had to be some type of star to bring them all the way to Bethlehem…it had to be something BIG. Poor Herod, once the Magi arrived his worse fears were confirmed---the star—the crazy, wild star, was recognizing the birth of another King, a different type of King---a messiah, The messiah. The light of the world. A light that promised to change…EVERYTHING. And Herod?
He didn't like it one bit.
The birth of the Messiah, the Prince of Peace? Another King of the Jews? Herod would have none of this. You see, there's no one more sensitive to a threat--- real/or imagined-- than a puppet king with an inferiority complex. So, reacting out of his fear, Herod tried to trick the Magi into bringing the baby to him, so he could have the baby Jesus killed. But the Magi were smart, and after warning Mary and Joseph to get out of dodge, they went home by a different route—avoiding Herod at all costs—for this baby, this Jesus? He was something to be adored. He was something to behold. And he was certainly something to protect.
The birth of Jesus caused a stir…but just who is this Jesus? A King, a God, A man, a Son, a prophet, a preacher, a revolutionary, a Messiah?
Yes. And then some.
Who is he? What is he? Why is he? It's the question of this season of manifestation isn't it?
Or are you already past all of this? Has the tree come down, have the lights lost their charm, have the presents been tossed aside?
Are we still awash in the wonder of Christmas Eve?
Or have we moved on, back to the same ol’ same ol’?
From the announcement of Gabriel, to the visit to Elizabeth, the birth in the barn, the arrival of the Magi,  and in a few weeks, the presentation at the temple, we read that, “But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.”
Our Epiphany challenge, our Epiphany task is to do as Mary, to ponder all that has occurred, to open our eyes to what and how and where “God among us” is taking shape.
Epiphany is a time to ponder, a time to adjust, a time to understand, a time to comprehend. A time to notice just how this whole miracle that just happened manifests itself in our lives.
It’s a tall order, I know. The stores have replaced the Christmas and New Year’s displays with Valentine’s Day, all those mundane things that demand so much of our attention are nagging at us.
Are we pondering the Christmas miracle in our hearts, or have we already returned to business as usual?
Folks, something astounding has happened.
God in the flesh has come to live among us, as one of us.
Did you notice? Do you notice, still?
At the moment of his birth, the cosmos cried out in exultation by flashing that dazzling star.
The heavenly hosts burst into song across the Bethlehem hills.
The shepherds noticed.
The star gazers in the east noticed.
Eventually Herod noticed.
But do we?
     Epiphany is all about the reality of “God among us” showing and shining in the world.
Does this reality excite you and fill you with joy? Or does it terrify you and fill you with fear? Who are you in this story? The fascinated Magi, the cowering, plotting Herod or the terrified and thrilled, scared and amazed shepherds? Maybe you’re Mary and Joseph, quietly pondering, silently trusting…
Are you filled with expectation about just who this Jesus will be and what he will do with us and through us?
Or are you Herod, threatened by anything that challenges the status quo, leery of anything new, anything different?
The birth of our Savior caused the stars, the planets, and the galaxies, to erupt in shiny exultation, intriguing the Magi, terrifying the  shepherds, baffling the Holy Family, infuriating Herod.
But what about You and what about me?
Are we bursting with this Good News?
Are we ready to arise and let the light of Christ shine upon us and upon all those whom we encounter? I hope so. Because truly, we have been given the greatest gift of all time---God Among Us. Right Here and Right Now.
The season of Epiphany is the season of acknowledging that God Among us in the World isn’t something to celebrate for one day and then go back to business as usual.
Epiphany is a time to ponder, to accept, to receive and then to go out into the world, shining the light, life, and love of Christ on everyone, everywhere. Always.
Because when we do that, we will change the world.



Amen.