Into The Light

Into the Light Epiphany Isaiah 60:1–6 • Ephesians 3:1–12 • Matthew 2:1–12

We Three Kings follow the light of a star. It might have been as many as twelve. It happened, in King Herod’s time, a time of great injustice, and great suffering. Herod wasn’t a true king; he was just a puppet of the oppressive Roman Empire.
King Herod survives, and even thrives, on secrecy and deception, and he calls the wise men in for a hush-hush meeting behind closed doors and pretends to be on the same page with them. “Go and search diligently for the child,” he says, “and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage” (v. 8).

What a devious man this Herod. We’ve heard the story of the murder of the innocents, all the little boys in the town of Bethlehem under the age of two. Fortunately, after the wise men reach Bethlehem, they find Jesus and are overwhelmed with joy. They offer their gifts—fit for a real king—and pay him homage, they’re warned by a dream to return home by another road. Safely.

When I read Isaiah talking about the light in preparation for today, I felt like I was stepping back into the Lessons and Carols on Christmas Eve, when we read from the first chapter of the gospel of John. No doubt, John was familiar with Isaiah.

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people…. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

Isaiah is exhorting- “Arise, shine, for your light has come.” He says this to people who don’t feel shiny at all. They’ve come home from exile to a city in ruins. Their hope is thin. But Isaiah gives them what Walter Brueggemann calls a “poetic alternative”—a way of seeing their world not through despair, but through God’s promise.

That’s a thread running through all three readings today if you look carefully. God is calling everyone. Not just Israel. The nations. The outsiders. People they never expected. We Three Kings

When Paul talks about “the mystery” he refers to the inclusion of Gentiles, Unity in Christ formed from one body, the Church with Christ as the head. All peoples belong in God’s family through Christ.

We Three Kings, The First People to follow the star and see the Light. They were Outsiders, foreigners. Likely Persians. Zoroastrians.
They don’t have the Torah. They don’t have the Jewish traditions.
But they have an open mind and courage. Matthew puts these foreigners front and center to show that God’s new world is already breaking in—and Herod can’t do a thing about it.

The Magi reminds us that people often start their spiritual journeys with just a glimmer: a question, a longing, a faint star on the horizon. And God honors that. As we do. No matter where you are on journey, curious, interested, questioning, believing, you are welcome here. God has invited all of you.

When we put these scriptural readings together, three simple Epiphany messages shine through: God’s light shows up in real-life darkness. God’s light is for everyone, for all who seek. Our church’s job is to shine, not by being impressive, but by being welcoming.
(4) God uses whatever light we have. And what do we have?
A star. A promise. A whisper of hope.

In summary we have heard these main points:
Isaiah saying, “Your light has come.”
John saying Jesus is the light for everyone.
Paul saying, “The mystery is revealed.” And finally
Matthew saying, “Look—the nations are already on the road.”
Epiphany is God’s invitation:
Follow the light you have. And then, be the light someone else needs.
Amen.