Home By Another Way
Isaiah 60: 1-6   Matthew 2: 1-12
Communion Meditation by the Reverend Odette Lockwood-Stewart

Epiphany means showing, appearance, manifestion -- God’s presence shown throughout the world.  
On January 6th we celebrate Epiphany, God’s presence shown to all the world through the Magi.

Magi means wise ones, wise ones from the east, travelers from a different nation, faith, culture, testified by their pilgrimage presence and gifts the truth of Christmas.  The Magi, from Persia, (modern-day Iran) were Zoroastrian philosophers, political advisors, scholars, who knew that a Messiah had been born among the Jews, a messiah who would bring justice to all people. They traveled far seeking this liberator and king, this baby found in Bethlehem.

There is much we do not know about the Magi.  We do not know how many wise ones followed the star to Bethlehem. By the 6th century a tradition grew that there were three magi because of the three gifts – gold, frankincense and myrrh – named in Matthew. We do not know their names, or that they were kings. These, also, were later traditions.

We do know they were wise. They paid attention to their studies of history, sacred texts, and the night sky.  They paid attention to dreams and wonder and the signs and significance of Jesus’ birth. Overcome, they knelt, and worshipped, and gave gifts to the Christ child.  Wisely, they also paid attention to the power of King Herod’s fear. Refusing to cooperate with Herod, they went home by another way and saved the life of Jesus.  This was their greatest gift.

James Taylor wrote a song about this story,...**(Judy Kriege sings)

Those magic men the magi
Some people call them wise
Or oriental, even kings
Or anyway, those guys
They visited with Jesus
They sure enjoyed their stay
Then warned in a dream of King Herod’s scheme
They went home by another way
Yes, they went home by another way
Home by another way
Maybe me and you can be wise guys too
And go home...another way.

Taylor’s song is a reminder, an inspiration and instigation to see more than one way home.  When we encounter the holy, when we face evil, when we share gifts, when we worship, when we welcome a new year, a new day, a new challenge, new life possible in every moment, we open ourselves to life’s alternate routes.  Every day we can choose to change plans, patterns, routes home, and ways of being.  We can resist even the evil in which we participate.  Every day we have the freedom God gives us to go home another way.
** (Judy Kriege sings)

Steer clear of royal welcomes
Avoid a big to-do
A king who would slaughter the innocents
Will not cut a deal for you
He really, really wants those presents
He’ll comb your camel’s fur
Until his boys announce they’ve found trace amounts
Of your frankincense, gold and myrrh.

Time to go home by another way
Home by another way
We got this far to a lucky star
But tomorrow is another day
We can make it another way
Safe home as they used say
Keep a weather eye to the chart on high
And go home another way.

The violence in Gaza escalated Saturday night when thousands of Israeli ground troops, tanks, helicopter gunships launched a ground offensive reportedly in response to missiles launched by Hamas.  The General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, Dr. Samuel Kobia of the United Methodist Church of Kenya, issued a statement on the crisis: “The first word to say to the violence against Gaza is ‘Stop.’” (Hundreds of) lives lost, ... 1000s wounded,... traumatized, ... This must stop immediately... In the countries involved in this conflict, churches and church members are looking to their governments to take up the urgent work of securing a viable future for Palestinians, Israelis and their neighbors.  The tired logic of public officials blaming others while denying their own governments responsibilities has led to the loss of many lives.  Governments need now to be accountable for peace. Our prayer is that this New Year will bring new courage, new leadership and new commitment to the difficult work of peace in the Middle East.”

Epiphany -- God’s presence shown, revealed, manifested throughout the world.  For peace throughout the world, right here, and withinin each of us, we need to go home by another way.

Epiphany also can mean the appearance of sudden, intuitive understanding sparked by experience. May Christ’s birth in Bethlehem, may the meal we share at this table, may every birth and every meal help us to find another way home.  

Yes, they went home by another way
Home by another way
Maybe me and you can be wise guys too
And go home...another way.