“Hope for a new Epiphany”
The Epiphany, January 4, 2008
May I speak only the truth, and may only the truth be heard by you, in the name of God our Creator, our redeemer, and our sanctifier.
Amen.
Amen.
The Bishop & me…
"His hope is that forms of religion that have found expression in denying the human rights of others, in opposing the insights of science, in negativity toward stem cell research, his hope, and my expectation, is that those forms of religion will quietly fade from our public life."
"His hope is that forms of religion that have found expression in denying the human rights of others, in opposing the insights of science, in negativity toward stem cell research, his hope, and my expectation, is that those forms of religion will quietly fade from our public life."
The Bishop & me…
"His hope, and mine, are that new, progressive forms of religion will express themselves in our national life in ways that are more earth-centered, more enhancing of justice, and more humane."
"His hope, and mine, are that new, progressive forms of religion will express themselves in our national life in ways that are more earth-centered, more enhancing of justice, and more humane."
The Bishop & me…
"His hope, and mine, are that traditional themes of yesterday’s Christianity might be translated into Christianity that is a more open, more universal, and a less creedal form of religion."
Three “wise men”: the Persian version
In the 13th century, in Persia, the place we now call “Iran,” they were telling the story of the three kings this way.
The three kings brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh in order to learn whether the new child was a king, a god, or a healer.
If he accepted the gold, he was an earthly king.
If he accepted the frankincense, he was a god.
If he accepted the myrrh, he was destined to be a healer.
The baby Jesus accepted all three according to the legend.
In return, Jesus gave the three kings a small locked box.
They later opened the box and found that it contained a stone.
Jesus had made them the present of a stone to indicate that they should be firm and constant in their new faith.
Because the kings didn’t understand, they threw the stone into a well.
As soon as the stone fell into the well, a burning fire descended from heaven and filled the well.
The kings took some of the fire and carried it to their own country, where they worshiped it as a god.
Marco Polo, describing this myth, explained that this is how those Persians came to be fire-worshipers.
Today, scholars will tell you that such stories of wise men following a star are long on pageantry, and very short on history.
That would of course include today’s version, from Matthew, as well.
Long on pageantry.
Short on history.
Epiphany: the Meaning of Jesus
The word epiphany comes from the Greek word for “showing forth,” for “manifestation.”
It describes a feeling, a sudden realization or insight of the essence, or the meaning, of something.
The arrival of Persian wise men at Jesus’ birthplace was intended to demonstrate that the God revealed in Jesus was not just God for the Jews.
The presence of those Persians demonstrated the inclusiveness of God’s affection, of God’s concern and care for all peoples.
It wasn’t a new idea.
We heard it this morning in the two readings.
Centuries earlier, Isaiah, was celebrating the return of Israel from its exile.
Isaiah wrote about a time when all races and nations would come to the God of the Jews, bearing gifts.
In the second reading, writing to church people in Ephesus, Paul claimed that this inclusiveness of previously unacceptable people in the church was fulfilling God’s plan.
How will religion influence national and world affairs in 2009?
Susan Jacoby is a strait-shooting author and reporter, and an avowed atheist.
I love reading her stuff.
This week, at the “On Faith” website offered by the Washington Post, participants were asked to comment on the following question:
“How will religion influence national and world affairs in 2009?”
Her comment was, “Why should we expect anything different from religion in 2009?”
Nothing much will change.
Here’s her prediction.
Conservative Muslims will continue to make trouble for secular governments.
Islamist radicals will launch more terrorist attacks somewhere.
In Israel, the ultra-Orthodox will continue to occupy territory they believe God gave them.
The Roman Catholic Church will continue to pursue its strategy of trying to fight poverty without controlling population and trying to address AIDS through abstinence-only education.
The rights of women will continue to be a flash point as Islamists, in particular, do everything they can in countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan to undo the fragile advances that have been made by women and to intimidate girls who want to get an education.
Right-wing religious organizations will continue to do everything possible to hold back the tide of gay rights.
In the U.S., they will still try to push their anti-evolution agenda on public schools.
Proselytizing groups like Mormons and Pentecostals will continue their busybody efforts to convert non-Christians around the world.
The Rt. Rev. John Shelby Spong, retired Episcopal bishop of the Diocese of Newark, on the other hand, is somewhat hopeful.
His hope is that forms of religion that have found expression in denying the human rights of others, in opposing the insights of science, in negativity toward stem cell research, his hope, and my expectation, is that those forms of religion will quietly fade from our public life.
His hope, and mine, are for “A New Epiphany,” a new religious consciousness that will begin to rise, a religious consciousness based on enhancing humanity, based on grasping life in all of its complex wonder and diversity, based on having the courage to live fully, to love wastefully, and to be all that each of us can be.
His hope, and mine, are that new, progressive forms of religion will express themselves in our national life in ways that are more earth-centered, more enhancing of justice, and more humane.
His hope, and mine, are that traditional themes of yesterday’s Christianity might be translated into Christianity that is a more open, more universal, and a less creedal form of religion.
I believe that to be, for us, Jesus’ gift in the Persian myth of the three kings, the gift of the small locked box containing a stone, indicating that we should be firm and constant in our new faith.
To me, this is where the meaning of The Epiphany lies in our times.
May we not throw the stone into the well.
Prayer
Let us pray.
Eternal God, the Great Mystery that is outside everything and yet at the same time inside, keep alive in each one of us the search for a faith that is real, a faith that helps us to live happier lives, a faith that gives us a fuller meaning to life and the events of life.
Bring us to know the goodness that flows from the heart of the universe and may we be expanded in heart and soul by that goodness.
This is our prayer. Amen.
"His hope, and mine, are that traditional themes of yesterday’s Christianity might be translated into Christianity that is a more open, more universal, and a less creedal form of religion."
Three “wise men”: the Persian version
In the 13th century, in Persia, the place we now call “Iran,” they were telling the story of the three kings this way.
The three kings brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh in order to learn whether the new child was a king, a god, or a healer.
If he accepted the gold, he was an earthly king.
If he accepted the frankincense, he was a god.
If he accepted the myrrh, he was destined to be a healer.
The baby Jesus accepted all three according to the legend.
In return, Jesus gave the three kings a small locked box.
They later opened the box and found that it contained a stone.
Jesus had made them the present of a stone to indicate that they should be firm and constant in their new faith.
Because the kings didn’t understand, they threw the stone into a well.
As soon as the stone fell into the well, a burning fire descended from heaven and filled the well.
The kings took some of the fire and carried it to their own country, where they worshiped it as a god.
Marco Polo, describing this myth, explained that this is how those Persians came to be fire-worshipers.
Today, scholars will tell you that such stories of wise men following a star are long on pageantry, and very short on history.
That would of course include today’s version, from Matthew, as well.
Long on pageantry.
Short on history.
Epiphany: the Meaning of Jesus
The word epiphany comes from the Greek word for “showing forth,” for “manifestation.”
It describes a feeling, a sudden realization or insight of the essence, or the meaning, of something.
The arrival of Persian wise men at Jesus’ birthplace was intended to demonstrate that the God revealed in Jesus was not just God for the Jews.
The presence of those Persians demonstrated the inclusiveness of God’s affection, of God’s concern and care for all peoples.
It wasn’t a new idea.
We heard it this morning in the two readings.
Centuries earlier, Isaiah, was celebrating the return of Israel from its exile.
Isaiah wrote about a time when all races and nations would come to the God of the Jews, bearing gifts.
In the second reading, writing to church people in Ephesus, Paul claimed that this inclusiveness of previously unacceptable people in the church was fulfilling God’s plan.
How will religion influence national and world affairs in 2009?
Susan Jacoby is a strait-shooting author and reporter, and an avowed atheist.
I love reading her stuff.
This week, at the “On Faith” website offered by the Washington Post, participants were asked to comment on the following question:
“How will religion influence national and world affairs in 2009?”
Her comment was, “Why should we expect anything different from religion in 2009?”
Nothing much will change.
Here’s her prediction.
Conservative Muslims will continue to make trouble for secular governments.
Islamist radicals will launch more terrorist attacks somewhere.
In Israel, the ultra-Orthodox will continue to occupy territory they believe God gave them.
The Roman Catholic Church will continue to pursue its strategy of trying to fight poverty without controlling population and trying to address AIDS through abstinence-only education.
The rights of women will continue to be a flash point as Islamists, in particular, do everything they can in countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan to undo the fragile advances that have been made by women and to intimidate girls who want to get an education.
Right-wing religious organizations will continue to do everything possible to hold back the tide of gay rights.
In the U.S., they will still try to push their anti-evolution agenda on public schools.
Proselytizing groups like Mormons and Pentecostals will continue their busybody efforts to convert non-Christians around the world.
The Rt. Rev. John Shelby Spong, retired Episcopal bishop of the Diocese of Newark, on the other hand, is somewhat hopeful.
His hope is that forms of religion that have found expression in denying the human rights of others, in opposing the insights of science, in negativity toward stem cell research, his hope, and my expectation, is that those forms of religion will quietly fade from our public life.
His hope, and mine, are for “A New Epiphany,” a new religious consciousness that will begin to rise, a religious consciousness based on enhancing humanity, based on grasping life in all of its complex wonder and diversity, based on having the courage to live fully, to love wastefully, and to be all that each of us can be.
His hope, and mine, are that new, progressive forms of religion will express themselves in our national life in ways that are more earth-centered, more enhancing of justice, and more humane.
His hope, and mine, are that traditional themes of yesterday’s Christianity might be translated into Christianity that is a more open, more universal, and a less creedal form of religion.
I believe that to be, for us, Jesus’ gift in the Persian myth of the three kings, the gift of the small locked box containing a stone, indicating that we should be firm and constant in our new faith.
To me, this is where the meaning of The Epiphany lies in our times.
May we not throw the stone into the well.
Prayer
Let us pray.
Eternal God, the Great Mystery that is outside everything and yet at the same time inside, keep alive in each one of us the search for a faith that is real, a faith that helps us to live happier lives, a faith that gives us a fuller meaning to life and the events of life.
Bring us to know the goodness that flows from the heart of the universe and may we be expanded in heart and soul by that goodness.
This is our prayer. Amen.
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