It’s strange at least in the popular media, that we mark beginning of a new calendar year with both births and deaths. The front page of most local newspapers usually features a photo of the first baby born in the new year. And often, along side this front page photo is the sad and tragic news of the first homicide of the year. In a rather macabre contest, in 2009, Peel Region logged its first homicide before Metro Toronto!
In the Christian calendar, the Feast of the Epiphany marks the first celebration of a new calendar year. Although it falls on January 6th, I have taken the liberty of marking the celebration of Epiphany today.
And in case you have forgotten from last year, Epiphany is celebrated by reading or reenacting the story of the magi’s visit to the Christ child. In many cultures, gift giving takes place on this day as a reminder of the gifts the magi gave to Jesus. Often a special cake called a Kings’ cake is baked. The cake is round to portray the circular route taken by the magi to confuse King Herod. A dry bean is placed in the cake to symbolize the child Jesus. The person who receives a piece of cake with the bean becomes the king or queen for the night.
The word ‘epiphany’ means ‘manifestation’. The season of Epiphany is literally a manifesting - a showing, a revealing, a shining forth of God’s revelation to the world in Jesus Christ. It is a season to seek the light of Christ, to immerse ourselves in this light and to participate in actions and lifestyles that lift up the light in a world that is often shrouded in the darkness of despair and suffering.
As much as we might like to cuddle up in the comfortable image of parading children wearing bath robes and ‘Burger King’ crowns and presenting their gifts at the manger, the story of the Magi needs to be far more robust and resilient if it is to have any power to guide and sustain us in the real world that we live in; a world where conflict has escalated again between Israel and Palestine; a world where the bleak economic forecast of 2008 hasn’t changed much; a world where in a New Year, just as new births are celebrated, so too are many tragic deaths mourned.
But of course, Matthew’s story of the magi isn’t a comfortable ‘bathrobe’ story; frankly it isn’t really a story that many of us would be inclined to tell young children.
For even though the Christ Child is at the centre of the story, all around the edges hovers the malevolence of King Herod. Herod the Great, as he was called, suffered from a legendary jealousy and paranoia. His fears of plots against him resulted not only in the deaths of enemies real and imagined, but he also ordered the execution of at least two of his own sons and one of his wives. And even though we didn’t read about the rest of Herod’s actions today, we know that in an effort to kill Jesus, whom he considers a threat to his throne, he orders the massacre of all the children in the region who are two years old and under.
Of course, God has other plans and following the advice given in a dream, the Magi don’t report back to Herod, but leave for their homeland by taking a road that avoids Jerusalem. And Joseph also heeds a dream, and instead of returning with Mary and Jesus to their home in Nazareth, the family flees into exile and safety in Egypt.
There is much wisdom to glean in Matthew’s tale of the Magi, and in previous years we’ve focused on the significance of stars and light, and on discovering God’s power in a helpless child and not in a tyrannical monarch.
This year, as I reread Matthew’s scripture, I was intrigued by the last line in the story, ‘And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.’
I’d like to suggest as we seek to find our way into 2009; as we seek to find our way back ‘home’ - that is as we seek to find places of belonging in 2009; as we try to navigate through the threats and terrors, and around the powerbrokers and the tyrants of our day and age, that we also need to heed the warning and wisdom of traveling by ‘another road’.
In the year that has just passed, many events have woken us up to the fact that the old maps, the old routes and pathways are not going to lead us where we hope to find life and renewal, community and belonging - the former and familiar roads are not going to lead us back to those places we would like to call home.
Jobs will not be restored and the automobile industry will not be revived by returning to a technology that continues to rely heavily on fossil fuels. Economies will not grow stronger by continuing to preach a gospel of ever increasing consumption. Global security and peace will not flourish if we continue to throw billions of dollars at armaments and armies while we throw only pennies at education and health care. This planet will not sustain a healthy environment for us and for most of the earth’s creatures if we continue to treat creation both as a limitless resource and as a global garbage dump.
I could go on, but I think you get the picture. To continue down this familiar road will only lead us back to the Herods of our day who threaten our collective safety and well-being. Of course when I talk about Herod, I’m not thinking necessarily of any one person or despot, but rather to the collective powers and tyrannies that threaten the safety and well-being of peoples, nations and the very planet we call home.
As communities, as nations, and as individuals, I believe that we have been warned by God; warned that following some of these old roads and the familiar ways will only lead to more despair and destruction. And I believe that along with the warning, we are invited to unfold a new map and to discover an alternate path - a path that leads to hope and the fostering of life.
Of course the question remains, where is this new map and how in the maze of pathways set before us, will we recognize and know which road to step out upon?
Well, of course there is no easy formula and as far I as I can tell, no brilliant star has appeared in the sky to guide us step by step. But there are clues and signs to guide us - from today’s gospel reading and from our own experiences of Jesus’ teaching and his life.
Today’s gospel reading certainly points to the dangers of following any route that leads us to greater collaboration with the traditional centres of power.
Over and over again the Bible and particularly in the life of Jesus we see that God is active in the margins - in the wilderness, in the backwater communities, among the people who are considered the last and the least. It seems to me that choosing a path that leads us into greater connection and community with those on the margins in our communities, in our families and in this world holds out the possibility of greater connection with God’s way in Jesus Christ.
And just as Joseph chooses a road into Egypt in order to safeguard his vulnerable child, I would offer that in 2009, we need to mindfully choose to move in directions that safeguard the vulnerable in this world; we need to join with others who partner to protect children against abuse and exploitation. We need to collaborate with those who seek to create communities where even the least can have access to adequate health care, an education, clean water and air, nutrition and nurturing.
Of course those who are vulnerable are not just restricted to children - we know of many nations where great numbers of the population are vulnerable - in the Congo, in Somalia, in Zimbabwe, in nations where the AIDS pandemic has a hold, in Canada among First Nations Communities, in Afghanistan and now once again in Israel and Palestine. We also know that much of God’s good creation is vulnerable with many creatures and landscapes and growing things on the endangered list.
Roads that lead us into a greater respect and care for all creation are certainly faithful routes to take.
As the Erin Mills United Church community, we have been gifted and challenged with some wonderful opportunities to explore and step out on another road.
Through the generosity of those who contributed to the 20th anniversary fund, $5,000 has been requested and subsequently approved by the Leadership Circle for ‘greening’ initiatives of this congregation. Dorothy and Andy Wilson have agreed to convene this ‘green team’ and if you are interested in exploring what road this may take us down, then speak to them today about joining the team.
Debbie Siertsema, a member of the congregation, is currently employed in the National UCC offices as staff with Aboriginal Ministries. It is my hope that in this new year, Debbie will share some of her work experience with us and draw us into a better understanding of our role in the UCC’s commitment to walk along a new road with First Nations Peoples.
EMYOP has been part of EMUC’s outreach work in the community with children and youth who are often vulnerable because of economic factors, cultural and racial prejudice and the threats of violence. This is a crucial year for EMYOP as this body seeks to work with the current staff and advisory committee to move out on a new road of creating a new governing board and charitable status with greater involvement and responsibility by the larger community. Perhaps this is a road you are called to walk so that EMYOP can grow stronger in its support and nurture of these children and youth.
Discerning God’s direction for this congregation’s work and life is something that we are all called to be about; and the Leadership Circle is particularly charged with that work. With the unfolding of a new year, the LC will be meeting for a retreat day in January to listen for and to pray for God’s guidance for new roads we need to travel in 2009. Although there are many dedicated people who serve on the LC, a number positions are vacant. Are you curious, imaginative, thoughtful and interested in a further conversation about joining the LC and prayerfully seeking God’s pathway for EMUC in 2009? Heather Bunting, chair of the LC and I would like to follow up with you.
These are but a few invitations to embark on some other roads. As we enter 2009 as individuals, as households, as part of this community of faith and as citizens of this country and of the world, I pray that we will heed the warnings and the invitations of God.
I pray that we will dare to step out, not alone, but with Christ walking at our side, to travel down new and unfamiliar roads; roads that lead us away from destruction, disappointment and despair, and lead us into hope, healing and newness of life for each one of us gathered here and for all God’s people and creation. Amen.
