Matthew 2: 1-12 (2026)<\/p>\n
In the law and the prophets, you gave us your will and in Jesus Christ you revealed your love. Open our minds by the power of your Spirit so that we might understand what you are saying to the church.<\/p>\n
Today is the Sunday before Epiphany<\/p>\n
The secular definition of epiphany is an \u201ca-ha\u201d moment.<\/p>\n
We love these \u201cout-of-nowhere\u201d gifts: sudden clarity about a tough decision,<\/p>\n
a creative solution to a thorny problem,<\/p>\n
a revelation about a relationship.<\/p>\n
But most often, epiphanies come after long periods of study or research<\/p>\n
Epiphany marks the end of the Christmas season, and it also arrives just after New Year’s Day<\/p>\n
This week has been a week full of wishes for something new, a hope for an epiphany perhaps<\/p>\n
We say Happy New Year<\/p>\n
We make new resolutions as to what we plan to do in the coming year<\/p>\n
We read meditations and articles that are designed to help us on our new path<\/p>\n
The gospel usually read close to Epiphany Sunday is the lesson in Matthew read today<\/p>\n
In this gospel lesson we have the familiar story of the wise men who followed a star to the baby Jesus<\/p>\n
This amazing story of the wise men\u2019s experience is shared with many, but not everyone is happy about this remarkable story<\/p>\n
We have Herod the king, who we are told was troubled by the news of the wise men<\/p>\n
It is generally agreed in polite circles that Herod was a bad guy<\/p>\n
He tried to kill the baby Jesus<\/p>\n
He lied to the wise men<\/p>\n
In short, he rejected the story that the Wise men brought to him<\/p>\n
There was an epiphany waiting to happen<\/p>\n
And Herod turned that epiphany away from himself<\/p>\n
There is a part of us that is like Herod<\/p>\n
When we are introduced to something new, we can turn away to what is known and safe<\/p>\n
When we are offered an invitation by God to bring good news to our world,<\/p>\n
we can find reasons why those in front of us don\u2019t need to hear our message<\/p>\n
Someone who tried to be open to God\u2019s invitation was Maya Angelou who was interviewed by George Stroumboulopoulos a few years ago<\/p>\n
Maya was a known poet, artist and educator<\/p>\n
Her accomplishments are too many to name<\/p>\n
She was a woman of faith and a woman of compassion<\/p>\n
She was also a woman with a past<\/p>\n
When some of her exploits were touched upon<\/p>\n
She said<\/p>\n
We need to have room to forgive<\/p>\n
We don\u2019t know what an inexperienced young person might do<\/p>\n
It is easy to judge, but also possible to release compassion and kindness<\/p>\n
(These are not her exact words, but the message that I understood)<\/p>\n
Maya learned much in her life<\/p>\n
And I think one of her greatest lessons has been to show love and acceptance<\/p>\n
She understood herself to be loved and cherished by God<\/p>\n
And so she could love and cherish others<\/p>\n
She accepted that people have the capacity to be like Herod<\/p>\n
To reject truth<\/p>\n
She also knew that she had been able to put that part of herself aside and to try to be like her God<\/p>\n
The same invitation is there for each one of us too.<\/p>\n
We hope that when we are offered the truth that we will not be like Herod<\/p>\n
The other main people in our gospel are the wise men<\/p>\n
They knew something was up because they had seen a new star<\/p>\n
The wise men could also be called astrologers<\/p>\n
They studied the stars and so when there was something new in the heavens they were intrigued<\/p>\n
Christian tradition holds that the Magi were kings<\/p>\n
We see an interesting contrast between these kings\u2019 response to Jesus\u2019 birth and the way Herod, king of God\u2019s people, responded<\/p>\n
As interesting as this designation may be<\/p>\n
a more precise description of these men might be that the Magi belonged to the priestly caste of Zoroastrianism, which paid particular attention to the stars.<\/p>\n
This priestly caste gained an international reputation for astrology, which was at that time highly regarded as a science.<\/p>\n
So these Wise Ones from the East were scientists and practiced other religions, and God used their faith and knowledge to bring them to the Christ.<\/p>\n
More ironic, God used scientists who practiced other religions to let King Herod and the chief priests and scribes of the people in on the news that their Messiah had been born.<\/p>\n
God seems to do whatever it takes to reach out to and embrace all people<\/p>\n
The wise men were made aware of what God was doing through their study<\/p>\n
They saw something new, and they pushed the limits to find out what that something new was<\/p>\n
This marks them as different right away<\/p>\n
It seems to be human nature to shy away from that which is different<\/p>\n
This week I herd an author being interviewed on the radio talking about his book<\/p>\n
He has written a book in which he makes that point that people will resist a new point of view simply because it is new<\/p>\n
He cited a few examples of people resisting a proposed change simply because it was new,<\/p>\n
They resisted the change even when the change was a good one<\/p>\n
One example that was cited was the work of Dr. Ignace Semmelweis, who was a physician at the Vienna General Hospital in the 1800\u2019s<\/p>\n
He observed that the ward where doctors delivered babies had a higher maternal mortality rate than the ward where the midwives worked<\/p>\n
Further observation had him notice that the doctors were not good about hand hygiene<\/p>\n
Dr Semmelweis recommend that the doctors wash their hands with a chlorinated lime solution<\/p>\n
In spite of the success of this method, it was rejected by the medical community because it departed from the practice of the day<\/p>\n
This was one of a few examples given of how people resist that which is different even if the change is a good and helpful one<\/p>\n
Given this study of human behaviour, it is not surprising that Herod did not want to hear about a new star pointing to a new king<\/p>\n
I am not suggesting that we take Herod as a role model<\/p>\n
But what if we use him as a cautionary example<\/p>\n
What if we saw those things that are different as messages from God rather than as threats?<\/p>\n
The wise men were open to what there was for them to learn<\/p>\n
They didn\u2019t look at a new star and assume that destruction was on the way<\/p>\n
They saw a new star and went out to see what it meant<\/p>\n
As a result they were the means by which the king sitting in Jerusalem heard about the birth of the Messiah<\/p>\n
And they were the means by which Mary was warned to flee from Herod<\/p>\n
What if we adopted the mindset of the wise men and looked for potential and hope around us?<\/p>\n
What if we were able to look at an act of kindness, and then build on it?<\/p>\n
The acts of kindness are there for us to see, if we will change our filters to let them shine through to us<\/p>\n
Epiphany comes to those who are open to the light<\/p>\n
This means making ourselves open to what God has to say to us and being open to what God may do through us<\/p>\n
A number of years ago I read a devotional in which the writing of the apostle Paul was given as an example for how to be open to the guiding of God\u2019s Spirit<\/p>\n
Pat Bell shared some reflections on verses in Ephesians in the PCC Daily devotional<\/p>\n
She had made it a practise to follow Ephesians 1:15-20 (NLT) and to daily pray for spiritual wisdom for those she knows<\/p>\n
The Ephesians passage reads like this: I also pray that you will (3) understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him.<\/em> This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honour at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. At this time of year when we look for epiphany, daily prayer for spiritual guidance for ourselves and others is a good place to begin<\/p>\n These things are possible through effort and behaviour modification<\/p>\n We have probably all heard or watched a program or interview about resolutions this week, this being the time of year for resolutions and all<\/p>\n For those of us who live the lives of members of the family of God<\/p>\n There is more to it than this<\/p>\n We are privileged to be able to live lives of hope<\/p>\n God gives us hope<\/p>\n God who we read about in our psalm this morning<\/p>\n God whose righteousness is seen in justice to the poor and deliverance to the needy<\/p>\n God who is able to give good qualities to the rulers of the land so that righteousness may flourish and peace may abound<\/p>\n This is the God who walks with us day by day<\/p>\n The one who is there every morning<\/p>\n So that when we arise we can say<\/p>\n What will we do together today God?<\/p>\n Reading for guidance is a good start in looking for an epiphany<\/p>\n Our definition that we started with this morning reminds that epiphanies come most often after long periods of study or research<\/p>\n God does speak to us<\/p>\n And like any other conversation<\/p>\n It is easier to hear God when we are paying attention<\/p>\n Daily prayer and devotional reading will help us to recognize God when the divine one speaks<\/p>\n Looking for the opportunities to be Christ to our world will help us to be more like the wise men and less like Herod<\/p>\n Lord, speak to me, that I may speak Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession<\/strong><\/p>\n God of all time and space,<\/p>\n as we gather in prayer, we recognize that our lives are but small details<\/p>\n in the vast expanse of your universe.<\/p>\n So we thank you for attending to the details of our lives.<\/p>\n We thank you for the year just past,<\/p>\n for walking through the good days and the hard days with us.<\/p>\n Thank you for friendships and relationships that sustain us in uncertain times.<\/p>\n We ask for your Spirit to guide us into the future,<\/p>\n and create new possibilities for ministry and mission through our congregation.<\/p>\n In gratitude,<\/p>\n our hearts kneel before you, O God;<\/p>\n Receive our humble prayers.<\/strong><\/p>\n God of all people and places,<\/p>\n the year just ending has held sorrows for so many in our community and around the world.<\/p>\n We remember dear ones of have died<\/p>\n and pray for those who look ahead in loneliness or sadness…..<\/p>\n A silence is kept.<\/em><\/p>\n We pray for those who have faced challenges in health, in their families or at work…..<\/p>\n A silence is kept.<\/em><\/p>\n Support each one who needs you close by.<\/p>\n In compassion,<\/p>\n Our hearts kneel before you, O God;<\/p>\n Receive our humble prayers.<\/strong><\/p>\n God of light and love,<\/p>\n As we face the year ahead, so much around us is still uncertain.<\/p>\n We seek your strength and guidance in each challenge we will face.<\/p>\n Draw near to each one who must confront illness, loss,<\/p>\n economic hardship or changing circumstances\u2026.<\/p>\n A silence is kept.<\/em><\/p>\n Guide those for whom new opportunities appear and choices must be made.<\/p>\n In anticipation,<\/p>\n our hearts kneel before you, O God;<\/p>\n Receive our humble prayers.<\/strong><\/p>\n God of community and commitment,<\/p>\n We pray for wisdom and courage in the year ahead.<\/p>\n Strengthen us as a congregation to be a lively and committed witness to your love.<\/p>\n Help us reach out to our community in faithfulness and service.<\/p>\n Guide leaders in our nation and around the world<\/p>\n so that justice and peace may prevail,<\/p>\n especially in troubled places and vulnerable lives.<\/p>\n Show us all how to honour and protect your creation,<\/p>\n even when that takes sacrifice on our part.<\/p>\n Receive our humble prayers and encourage us onward in the name of Jesus our Christ in whose name we pray. Amen<\/p>\n Commission and Blessing<\/strong><\/p>\n Go in courage and confidence to face the year ahead, sure that the light of Christ will guide you.<\/p>\n And may God bless you and keep you; may God\u2019s face shine upon you;<\/p>\n and may God be gracious to you and give you joy and peace this day and every day,<\/p>\n now and evermore. Amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Matthew 2: 1-12 (2026) In the law and the prophets, you gave us your will and in Jesus Christ you revealed your love. Open our minds by the power of your Spirit so that we might understand what you are saying to the church. Today is the Sunday before Epiphany The secular definition of epiphany … Continue reading “Sermon from January 4th, 2026”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3159","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"sermons_blog_filters_topics":"\t\t\t\t
\nEver since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ to (1) give you spiritual wisdom and insight<\/em> so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.<\/em> I pray that (2) your hearts will be flooded with light<\/em> so that you can understand<\/em> the confident hope<\/em> he has given to those he called \u2014 his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.<\/p>\n
\nShe also follows the message of Ephesians 3:14-21 (NLT) and prays for spiritual growth
\nWhen I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will (1) empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.<\/em> Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. (2) Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.<\/em> And may you have the (3) power to understand,<\/em> as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.<\/em> May you (4) experience the love of Christ,<\/em> though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be (5) made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.<\/em> Now all glory to God, who is able, through (6) his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we ask or think.<\/em> Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen. (Pat Bell)<\/p>\n
\nIn living echoes of Thy tone;
\nAs Thou hast sought, so let me seek
\nThy erring children lost and lone.<\/p>\n