Click to hear this sermon  sermon070107

In fact, the day of their arrival in Bethlehem, the 12th day of Christmas, is for almost half of the world's Christians the day that they celebrate Christmas.

Now I don't know about you, but for me many of my favorite Christmas cards feature a picture of the wise men traveling by camel through a star lit night, one star dominating the sky, arriving on the crest of the hill overlooking Bethlehem. If any of you have seen the new movie out this year, The Nativity Story, you too have seen this Hallmark greeting card company version of the Epiphany.

And, while I sometimes make fun of that image, which might not just be so historically accurate, I have still always found the image very special - I can see it so well in my mind: the journey is almost done. It's been a long trip, filled with perils and yet full of hope, and now the town of Jesus' birth, and the stable and the manger are just a few more hundred yards away. And I can imagine the cold crisp air, and the beautiful sky, and the feeling of peace and satisfaction that the magi must have felt as they looked down from the star in the sky to the building lying below in its light.

For most of us the story of these wise men, the magi, is dominated by the part of the scene I've just described, it is dominated by the star, and by the wonder of how it pointed the way to Christ, for those three kings, the three wise men.

It is a good image to have because it helps to make the whole story of Jesus' birth and his unique place in the plan of God even more special.

But alas, a wise theologian, Doctor John Moses once pointed out those wise men were not just led to Jesus by the star that they saw in the East.

In fact, he said, the Wise Men did not find the one they sought, they did not discover Jesus and worship him, until they had done one other very important and necessary thing - until they had consulted the Holy Scriptures, until they had asked Herod, and Herod had asked the chief priests, and teachers of the law, where the Christ was to be born.

Doctor Moses said that, in fact, he had read the story of the magi hundreds of times -  but never really taken in, or thought about this part of the story for the longest time.

Then, the thought came to him that the same thing that was true for the Wise Men, is true for us: we may know the way to Christ, what direction to travel in, and we may have a general idea about where he lays, but until we, like the Wise Men, consult the scriptures as well, we cannot find Jesus and worship him as we would like and need to do.

And I must confess that this part of the story of the wise men had not really penetrated my consciousness either - yet now that I've had it pointed out to me, it seems so very obvious and so very significant.

It is the word of God that leads us to God, as much as it is the light that God gives for guidance, be it the light of a star, or, more commonly, the light that shines through another person's life - the light of peace, joy, hope, and love.

In other words, two things are required, if we are to make a connection with our Lord - the willingness to track down the light that God gives to see where it leads - and the willingness within that tracking down, to turn to the Word of God, and take the advice it gives about how to find and how to follow the Lord.

The hymn that we (sang) will sing today Shine, Jesus, Shine which is mainly concerned about the light of God's presence, alludes to the linkage between God's light, God's guidance if you will, and the scriptures when it says in the language of prayer:

SEND FORTH YOUR WORD, LORD

AND LET THERE BE LIGHT.
It's a good prayer to pray: Let God's word - the Word made flesh, Jesus our Lord, give life today, Let God's Word, the word of scripture - the inspired word, give light today.

We need the word to find Jesus today, as much as we need the light that is cast by faithful disciples and witnesses to Jesus Christ, our savior and Lord.

My own experience shows something that I think is true of us all - it shows it is easy to miss things of importance because we are looking at other things and concentrating on other issues.

We easily overlook things of importance, things that help us become happier, more faithful and more fulfilled - while at the same time focusing on things that make us unhappy, less faithful and less fulfilled.

It seems to be that we all too often operate like Sherlock Holmes, who once, when asked why he couldn't remember certain things replied: “because my dear Watson, my brain can only contain so much information, and whenever I learn something new, something old must go.”

As you start this New Year - my prayer is that you will get rid of any old things that are holding you down and preventing you from discovering the abiding presence of God in your life.

And it is my prayer that you will replace these things by a careful examination of the word of God and a long hard look at the stars in the sky - for when you do this you will find Christ in your midst.

That is what the magi did when they followed the star, and when they consulted the scriptures and the wisdom about them held by the chief priests and teachers of the law.

They focused on the right stuff, they listened to the right voices, and they consulted the right sources and they did this while actually dealing with a man who had nothing but evil on his heart - King Herod... and so they ended up finding Christ and were able to bless him and be blessed by him.

Which just goes to show, my friends, that for the righteous, even the words of evil people can point the way to God, and to the Christ whose spirit lives in our midst.

Can you find the good in the midst of what seems to be all bad? Can you find the light of God in the world around you and the presence of Christ in the people you meet?

A while back I read an article that helps, I think, to illustrate the importance of having the correct focus in how we look at events and the people in the world around us.

The article was on RAP MUSIC and was titled, "Media and Parents Expect Worst, but Rap has Positive Message".

And the point of the article was very simple. It was that while RAP music is accused of filling the heads of young people with garbage, it can also fill the heads of young people with some virtue.

Todd Simmons, the author pointed out that if anyone really listens to RAP, they could quickly discover that while some of it is full of violence and openly encourages racial discrimination and sexual bigotry, other RAP music, in fact a great deal of it, has exactly the opposite message.

While 2 LIVE CREW have actually gone to court on obscenity charges, because their songs and performances are so bad - artists like BPD and Queen Latifah have helped create a STOP THE VIOLENCE MOVEMENT and have participated musically in anti-drug campaigns and have encouraged in their songs environmental awareness and caring human relationships.

The author says, "If you believe that people who listen to rap artists are more likely to become violent, then you should also believe that people who listen to rap artists who project positive values will be less violent and show positive values in their everyday lives - sort of like monkey see, monkey do."

In other words, it is not the entire RAP musical scene that is a problem - it is what individuals choose to listen to and concentrate on within the RAP world.

In the same way it is not the world outside us that depresses us and makes us feel that there is little or no hope for the future - nor is it the world that makes us feel that God is not present with us and that Christ's spirit is not dwelling with us, it is instead what we choose to look at and focus on in the world that creates those problems and makes it seem to us as if the faith of others is nothing but a misguided delusion.

Everyone knows about "self fulfilling prophecies".

We know for example that if a child constantly hears that they are stupid, they will most likely act that way and that is a child is told that they are brilliant they will most likely act that way, as well.

In the same way, my friends, if you constantly think about negative things or believe that only negative things are going to happen, you will become a kind of emotional black hole, a person in which all good things quickly vanish without leaving a trace of joy behind, and from which nothing good can ever escape or be seen.

By what you choose to look at, and what you choose to listen to, you determine whether you end up being a vortex of despair, or a radiant star in the heavens of God.

Those who expect the economy to get worse will not invest in it, and the economy will indeed get worse. And those who believe that the United States is doomed as a country will likely tell this to all their friends and suddenly any positive steps that are taken by our leaders are belittled and doomed to failure.

Those who listen to those who claim it is futile to give food to the hungry and aid the underprivileged, most likely will not provide any help themselves, and so in fact help hunger and oppression to continue.

What you expect is most likely what you will get, what you believe about yourself is most likely what you will become; And what you think God is doing for you and for the world is all that you will most likely see him doing.

If you feel trapped, alone, and have little hope in your life, it is time for you to develop a new view, and look at new things and listen to different songs.

As you go into this New Year remember this, many, many good things are happening all around you, and that good things lie in store for all those who believe that good can and will happen, and that good is always triumphant over evil.

God is present to support and guide all those who listen to his word and who look for the light he gives in the lives of his saints and in the stars of the heavens themselves.

The wise men found Jesus, because they watched for the signs of God, and listened to God's word.

Praise be to God for his word, and for his light, and for the gift of faith which allows them to work in our lives.

AMEN.