Discovering How to Be Human:
On Finding an Epiphany When You Need One
Rev. Jimmy Moore, preaching
Isaiah 60:1-6; Matthew 2:1-12
Could you use an epiphany or two these days? One night this week I had occasion to be out “in the country” late in the evening. It was a clear night, and all of a sudden, though it had been there all along, I noticed above me a heaven full of stars. A majority of Americans are surrounded each evening with so much artificial light that we cannot see, at least with regularity, the wonder above us. With its radiance and the unpredictable poetry of the constellations, this was a moment of “Epiphany”, speaking not just of the physical universe, but of sometimes hidden wonder of life. Instantly, I started breathing differently. I had no words, but if I had found them, they could have said it no better than Maya Angelou in her poem, “Touched by An Angel,”
We are weaned from our timidity
In the flush of love’s light
We dare be brave
And suddenly we see that love costs all we are
And will ever be.
Yet it is only love which set us free.
This Sunday in worship we mark Epiphany Sunday. The Gospel Lesson for the day is Matthew 2: 1-12, and tells the story of the Magi, who were like astrologers but at the very least, we can say that they were connoisseurs of epiphanies. They sought them, and with all of their experience, the Gospel writers want us to imagine that when they saw this star, some new longing overcame them. They were led by star to the sacred story, and by dream to go home a different way, away from the fear and death of the powers and toward liberating love. Nothing was the same after their Jesus sighting?
So could you use an epiphany just now? Has the way seemed endless and unnecessarily meandering? Are you having a difficult time seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, or for that matter, at the entrance to the cave. Then let’s muse on this in worship on Sunday at 10:30. The sermon is titled “Discovering How to Be Human: On Finding an Epiphany When You Need One”. We’ll celebrate Holy Communion and the Chancel Choir will lead us in worship. We hope to see you this Sunday.