Sunday 5th January 2025
Isaiah 60: 1-6
Psalm 72: 1-7, 10-14 Feast of the Epiphany 2025.
Ephesians 3: 1-12
St. Matthew 2: 1-12
“The mystery was made known to (Paul) by revelation.” Ephesians 3: 3a
I hope you will forgive me, if I tell you a brief story about my grandson, Gordon, age 2, as it’s relevant to today’s scripture readings…
Gordon is just learning how to play the children’s game, “Hide and Seek…” Gordon knows he I supposed to be quiet when he is hiding. Yet, it’s obvious if he’s hiding behind the curtains, with his ankles and feet and an arm in plain sight. He squeals with excitement when he is “found,” and Gordon is equally excited when he finds me, when I am hiding…
I think there is something exciting to us all when there is a mystery or a surprise; and then a discovery… It might be a surprise party; it might be an unexpected visit from a far-away family member; it might be a children’s game of hide-and-seek… Regardless, we experience pleasure when there’s a mystery, and some-thing or some-one being revealed…
In today’s reading from Ephesians 3, St. Paul describes God’s nature as a mystery, a mysterion… That’s true when we think about it, isn’t it? We don’t know all about the nature of God by ourselves. Ideally, we’re taught what God is like by our parents or our godparents, or a Christian mentor…
But how did they learn what God is like? They likely learned in turn from a godly family member, or a Christian mentor… We’re called to share the good news with others – to pass on this good news, of a new way of living and believing… “Tradition” comes from a Latin word meaning “to pass on,” like a baton being passed on during a relay race. In that sense, we’re all called to pass on the living tradition of the gospel…
But how did this tradition start? The Christian community didn’t figure it out! God revealed himself – revealed his nature – through Jesus Christ. Knowing what God is like isn’t because we were clever and figured God out… Instead, God revealed himself through Jesus Christ. God continues to reveal himself to seekers today, through the Spirit of Christ Jesus. We don’t find God… Instead, God shows himself, reveals his nature – supremely, through Jesus…
So if someone asks us what God is like, Christians have a very simple answer: Get to know Jesus!… When we take on the priorities of Jesus Christ, when we choose to follow him, that is how we learn what God is like: God has revealed himself through Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit…
So we see that core to gospel is that there is a mystery; a puzzle – what is God like? The second stage is when we see how God has revealed himself in human history, including our lives this very day…
The Jewish people had a very clear sense that God has revealed his purposes to Abraham and Abraham’s descendants – to the nation… They were in a special covenant relationship with God…
For Christians, God’s self-revelation is even wider, even broader: When the fullness of time had come, God revealed himself in Jesus Christ, not just for one nation, but for all nations, all people…
Whatever our ethnic background is, whatever our circumstances, no matter how many stupid mistakes we have made in our lives, whatever sins we have committed, we are never outside the reach of God’s love – shown supremely in the Lord Jesus…
It is an amazing fact: We are convinced that the good news of forgiveness and new life is open to all people, through God’s self-revelation in Jesus… The mystery is made known! God’s nature is revealed, in the presence of an extraordinary figure from a dusty corner of the Roman Empire – Jesus of Nazareth…
So, in today’s reading from Ephesians 3, Paul rejoices that the good news is open to all people – Jew and Gentile – that is, Jew and foreigner (which covers everyone!). Verses 5 and 6:
In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that is, the Gentiles have become fellow-heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
The same point is illustrated in today’s gospel reading, from Matthew 2, with the coming of the wise men, bearing gifts:
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’
The wise men were foreigners, from the east – perhaps from Persia or the Arabian Peninsula – or even further, from India… But the wise men weren’t Jewish, were they?… Yet the wise men receive a revelation from God, that they are to come; and kneel down; and worship little Jesus… Matthew records that they were “overwhelmed with joy…”
Today is the beginning of a new Church season, Epiphany… “Epiphany” means “manifestation” or “revelation:” God has revealed himself to all peoples, through the gift of Jesus Christ…
So, what are we to take from this mystery made known, this self-revelation of the Living God?… You and I all have a role to play, to pray that all people might be drawn deeply into God’s perfect love. Not only do we pray for it, but we are ambassadors for Christ, inviting people to “come and see,” as Phillip the Apostle did!… You and I can invite – to a Sunday morning, to an Alpha Course, to a church supper – and let God do what God does best…
We don’t make people into disciples; God does… You and I just have the privilege of inviting, of passing on some great news, graciously, lovingly and kindly…
Like the wise men, may we draw near to the Lord Jesus, and be drawn to worship. We don’t offer gold and incense and bitter perfume, as the wise men did so long ago. Instead, we offer our hearts; our hands; our feet; our voices – our whole selves, to shine for Christ…
May we live for Christ, as Christ lives in us by his Spirit, regardless of our backgrounds; open to all.
Amen.