– I edited to moderate some of the casual talking points but left it pretty much what I wrote and spoke on Sunday 5jan25. The off script, spontaneous things I said obviously aren’t included. If you want to watch the service on YouTube contact GoWC-C (http://www.grainofwheat.ca/). I added bracketed, italic comments for clarity…I hope.
I feel honoured to be the first homilist in 2025. Today is when the church celebrates Sunday revelation of Jesus incarnate love to Gentiles – Epiphany Sunday – According to Merriam-Webster dictionary – January 6 is observed as a church festival in commemoration of the coming of the Magi as the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles; an epiphany is an appearance or manifestation especially of a divine being: a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something: an intuitive grasp of reality through something (such as an event) usually simple and striking: an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure.
In the first chapters of Matthew, he introduces Jesus and who he was to a primarily Jewish audience. I like to think Matthew introduces us to Incarnate Love – God enfleshed – among us.
We really don’t understand the radical idea of what we heard from Rachel last Sunday about the how genealogy of Jesus includes women, foreign sex workers and a woman who used seduction to get married into the family and becomes King David’s great great great grandma. All relations of Jesus. His family tree.
Today Matthews continues his introduction to Jesus, Incarnate love by saying even male foreigners… from a different religion – they were probably Zoroastrian priests – all these folk are part of Jesus story.
As I reflected on the story this week in preparation for this homily, I was listening to some songs for inspiration and decided to share with you what I heard in those songs. I’ll start with Bruce Cockburn’s – Cry Of A Tiny Babe – from his – Nothing but a Burning Light album. (I’ve put links to songs and lyrics – from no particular site – at bottom of this blog)
Part of what Bruce sings is: “The child is born in the fullness of time / Three wise astrologers take note of the signs / Come to pay their respects to the fragile little king / Get pretty close to wrecking everything / ‘Cause the governing body of the whole [Holy] land / Is that of Herod, a paranoid man.”
(I think I made some comment about present day leaders of Holy Land and other places being paranoid and killing or putting children in cages … if I didn’t I know I had it in another version.)
“There are others who know about this miracle birth / The humblest of people catch a glimpse of their worth / For it isn’t to the palace that the Christ child comes / But to shepherds and street people, hookers and bums / And the message is clear if you’ve got ears to hear / That forgiveness is given for your guilt and your fear / It’s a Christmas gift you don’t have to buy / There’s a future shining in a baby’s eyes.”
I believe Matthew was making the same point for his Jewish readers – that the revelation of incarnate love was for everyone. Matthew wanted those first readers to know that Jesus was teaching and living a new way of understanding how God / Yahweh is working in the world …everyone is part of that story – no matter who you are.
In a few minutes we’re going to come to the table of Christ and as you’ve heard every Sunday – all are welcome whatever stage of faith you are or whatever your sexual orientation AND … dare I say, it doesn’t matter what religion you identify with. All are welcome at the table of Incarnate Love.
I also heard in Steve Bell and Jamie Howison’s lyrics in Old Sage / Home Again – from Steve’s Feast of Seasons album: “It was something ‘bout that boy in Bethlehem / I will never be the same.”
This spoke to me that the encounter with Jesus as Divine Incarnate Love – as a boy – changed something for these wise men. Something about the experience of being in the presence of Incarnate Love was an epiphany for them – an intuitive grasp of a reality that they didn’t know before. Something they hadn’t thought of, despite all their study.
Those words reassured me that Jesus the Christ, Incarnate Love, somehow brings hope to hopeless situations, they don’t remain the same. Matthew says the Story of Jesus tells us that there can be redemption / hope that even paranoid rulers can’t destroy. In my life it’s hope despite depression. Maybe for you it’s hope despite war and killing of children. Hope despite all the murdered and missing women. Maybe hope despite the environmental disaster we’re in. Hope for family tensions. Whatever you’re dealing with – an encounter / experience of Divine Love – changes how you deal with it. Rather than raging against the darkness you have the courage, wisdom and strength to go into the darkness with Incarnate Love by your side, supporting and encouraging you and that somehow changes the darkness. A Christmas miracle that you don’t have to buy.
I really wanted you to hear Anais Mitchell’s Song of the Magi – and Larry graciously agreed to learn it. The Good Lovelies do a wonderful cover version of this, please listen today. Thanks Larry for your version. (Larry did a wonderful version of this song that was very moving, accomplishing what I had hoped – sometimes taking a risk – including a song in the homily – works out … thanks be to Love. I had more written words to say after Larry sang but it was so moving that I ended with only these ones – after a good moment of silence. When I listened to it again to check the link, tears still came to my eyes.)
And she so loved the world. Every one, everything is loved. And that love softens the darkness. There was something ‘bout that boy in Bethlehem – that encounter with Divine Incarnate love – you’ll never be the same. There’s a future SHINING in a baby’s eyes. It’s a Christmas present that you don’t have to buy. Thanks be to LOVE. AMEN.
___________________
Bruce Cockburn singing – Cry Of A Tiny Babe – from album – Nothing but a Burning Light https://youtu.be/mRZxrr4P9FE?si=GS8zrMAMNCfJNd4M
Lyrics – https://cockburnproject.net/songs&music/coatb.html
Steve Bell singing Old Sage / Home Again – from album Feast of Seasons – https://youtu.be/9g5A-Jp_lao?si=qLsJ1GVjCb8DTYHT
Good Lovelies singing Anais Mitchell’s – Song of the Magi – from their album – Evergreen: https://youtu.be/L4nrMkdarvE?si=qr6LudtJaDJCWD1B
Lyrics – https://genius.com/Anais-mitchell-song-of-the-magi-lyrics
listenwiththeearofyourheart 
You must be logged in to post a comment.