The First Sunday after Christmas
January 4, 2008
St. Andrew’s Anglican Church
The Rev. M. Anthony Seel, Jr.
Matthew 2:1-12
The Real Star Trek
In 1966, Star Trek was first aired, but it lasted only three seasons. It was in syndication during the 70s that the show’s popularity grew. Then there was Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space 9, Star Trek: Voyager, and finally Star Trek: Enterprise. Each of these Star Trek television series had a different cast.
In addition to the five different Star Trek television series there are ten feature films with another one scheduled to be released in May. There is also the Star Trek animated series. The Guinness Book of World Records reports that the original Star Trek has spawned more spin-offs than any television show in history.
Star Trek has been called “one of the most culturally influential television shows – and perhaps the most influential science fiction television series – in history” (Wikipedia – Cultural Impact of Star Trek). In 1976, NASA named the first Space Shuttle orbiter Enterprise after the mother ship of the original Star Trek. There are scientists and engineers who say that they were influenced by Star Trek to go into their chosen professions.
As much impact as Star Trek has had, there is another star trek that has had even more. That’s the star trek of our gospel lesson this morning.
Mystery surrounds the gospel appointed for the Second Sunday after Christmas and also the Feast of the Epiphany. Wise men come from the east, but we don’t know who they are or from whence they come. These wise men are often called Magi, from the Greek word magoi, meaning priests from Persia, or possessors of supernatural knowledge and power, or magicians, or deceivers, or seducers. The New Testament uses magoi to mean possessors of secret wisdom, and so wise men in a good translation.
Wise men started their trek in the east, but where in the east? Were they from Persia, or Babylon or Arabia? We don’t know. The gifts that they bring suggest Arabia, but we can’t be quite sure. We don’t even know how many wise men there were. Tradition settled on three because there were three gifts – gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
These mysterious men from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." (v. 2)
Herod feels threatened by their question since he is the king of the Jews. Herod is disturbed by the possibility that a rival king of Israel has been born. For whatever reason, “all Jerusalem” joins Herod in being disturbed by news of the birth of this royal child. We’re not told why all Jerusalem is troubled – it could be that they are troubled precisely because Herod is troubled.
The highest religious authorities are drawn into this maelstrom of fear and as Swiss theologian Ulrich Luz notes, “an unholy triple alliance of evil” is formed by Herod, all Jerusalem, and the religious leadership (Theology, p. 27). The leading priests and top Bible scholars inform Herod that the Christ is to be born in “Bethlehem of Judea” according to the prophet Micah (5:2).
What had to be strange to Matthew’s first Jewish readers are these pagan men coming to worship the “King of the Jews” and the religious leaders of Israel collaborating with Herod in opposition to the Christ child. Yet, here we are, with pagan wise men following a star and asking, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?” (v. 2)
Here we are, with Herod meeting these foreigners secretly to find out when this star appeared. Here we have Herod instructing them, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him." (v. 8)
What a deceitful liar is Herod. What a weird scene this is with three Magi from the east coming to worship the Jewish Christ child. In the most famous star trek of all time, a star leads these wise men from the east to Jerusalem and then to Bethlehem.
If you were here a few weeks ago you may remember the Dimmer Switch Principle. The Dimmer Switch Principle is that “when we respond to the light” that God gives us, “God gives us more. When we don’t” respond to the light that God gives us, “he takes away the light we already have” (Larry Osbourne, Contrarian, p. 75).
The wise men from the east responded to the light they had and it led them to the King of the Universe. To this king sent by God they offered gifts, costly gifts – gold, frankincense and myrrh.
In Reader’s Digest it has been suggested that if wise women had come from the east instead of wise men, they would have asked for directions, make it to Bethlehem on time, helped with the delivery, cleaned up the stable, made a decent meal, and brought some practical gifts.
The gifts the wise men brought may not have been practical, but they were costly and highly symbolic. Gold was rare and expensive in the ancient world. It symbolized royalty or divinity. Frankincense, a golden resin harvested from trees, was used in incense for worship. Myrrh, another resin harvested from trees, was harvested as a perfume for royal clothing or burials.
The gold symbolizes that Jesus is divine or a king or both. Frankincense tells us that Jesus is God, and myrrh reminds us of Jesus’ humanity and His death on the cross for us. The gift-bearing Magi were led on their star trek to Jesus. These unlikely persons sought Him out, worshipped Him, and presented Him with gifts. The Magi are great models for us in all three of their actions.
First, they took the light that they were given by God and used it to find Jesus. Second, they worshipped Him. Third, they honored Jesus with costly gifts. Finally, they received one more communication from God. “And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.” (v. 12)
These wise men really were extraordinary people. They saw a star and followed it until it led them to Jesus. They received the Word of God in a dream and they obeyed it. In between these two divine communications they “rejoiced exceedingly with great joy” (v. 10) in the presence of Christ.
As we start this new year, how is your spiritual life? Are you open to the many ways that God might use to communicate with you?
Do you “rejoice exceedingly with great joy” in the presence of Jesus?
Do you bring Him costly gifts?
Worship is at the center of our gospel lesson this morning just as God intends for it to be at the center of our lives. Worship doesn’t necessarily begin at 9 a.m. on Sunday mornings. It can begin as you start to prepare your heart to encounter God in worship. For the Magi, they had their trip from the East to Bethlehem to prepare their hearts. Your drive to the church might be a time of preparation for you, or you might start even earlier than that.
The Magi went to Bethlehem expecting to encounter the Messiah and they weren’t disappointed. What do you prepare for and expect to encounter in worship?
Because they believed that they would be meeting the Messiah in the flesh, they brought costly gifts. We come together to worship in the spiritual presence of God. What do you bring to worship?
These are key questions for each of us if we wish to experience the presence of God. What do you expect and what do you bring to this weekly encounter with God?
Two years ago our parish mission theme was about inspiring worship. Inspiring worship begins inside each of us – in our hearts. If our hearts aren’t right with God, inspiring worship won’t happen. Worship is inspiring and joyous when we are in tune with God’s Spirit within us. Only the Holy Spirit can genuinely inspire your worship and our worship. Inspiring worship is enthusiastic worship. Our word enthusiasm comes from two Greek words, en and theos – in God. Inspiring worship is not about technique; it is about God’s presence with us.
Each week, as you come to worship the King of the Universe, first prepare your heart. Pray. Ask God to help you clear your mind of distractions. Come expecting to meet with God. Second, bring costly gifts. Bring your tithe and additional offerings. Bring your whole self – heart, soul, mind, and strength. Don’t leave any part of yourself back in the world. Come here prepared to leave everything else aside so that the worship that you give to God is truly your best offering.
That’s the message of the Magi today. Expect to meet God and bring your best when you do so.
