Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Progressive Christian
Religion News
The Epiphany of the Lord: Homiletical Musings, 01/05/2025

The Epiphany of the Lord: Homiletical Musings, 01/05/2025

Last updated on: January 4, 2025 at 11:02 pm by Jeff Hood

0 Comments

The Epiphany of the Lord: Homiletical Musings, 01/05/2025 2025-01-04T23:02:07-06:00 Jeff Hood

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

*Based on homily delivered at St. Oscar Romero Old Catholic Church in Little Rock, Arkansas

January 5, 2025

The Epiphany of the Lord

Matthew 2:1-12

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

Everybody was… Greatly troubled. Stunned. Flipping their shit. The reactions of Herod and the people of Jerusalem say a great deal about where they were before the wise men arrived. I can only imagine how shocking it was when these wise men arrived in all of their glory. Everybody wanted to know what was up…especially Herod. They had a great deal at stake. So often we cling to what we have that we miss the magic. Something magical was afoot and all Herod and the people of Jerusalem could think about is how they could protect what they had and protect themselves from what was to come.

The message of the Christ is not about collecting and protecting. Too often we function like these folks. We’re worried that somebody is going to show up and take our stuff. We are called to give away everything that we have. These folks in Jerusalem weren’t prepared to give anything up, especially Herod. It seems to me that there would have been at least a few people who would have wanted to travel with the wise men to meet the Christ. Unfortunately, everybody (including Herod) were too worried about their shit…so worried about their shit that they lost their shit and missed the Christ.

The wise men feel a little dumb for not realizing that they were getting played by Herod. It shouldn’t have taken a dream to realize that power will do anything to protect power. The evil that was rampant in Jerusalem was the evil of a selfishness that would do anything to not have to give anything up.

The wise men kept following the star. Have you ever believed so much in something that you would be willing to follow the sign to the ends of the earth? These folks believed in the Christ even though they’d never seen or met the Christ. Maybe that is what we are called to…believing without having seen or met. Faith is a difficult thing for all of us. I know there are times that I believe more strongly than others. I want proof. I guess we all do. This passage teaches us that faith is sometimes a star. We don’t always know what we will find…but we do know how to pick out the star.

There is great beauty found when the wise men meet the Christ. Falling all over themselves and the like. But it seems to me that the magic of this story is that the wise men left home in the first place.

Catholic

Politics and Religion

St. Oscar Romero Old Catholic Church

Previous Post

January 3, 2025

Strange Expectations: Reflections from Advent

Next Post

January 7, 2025 The People v. Alfred Bourgeois : The Execution of Innocence

Recent Comments

0 | Leave a Comment

"'God’s Sheep on the Sidewalk' is immensely thought-provoking and conscience-stirring. Thanks. "The people out there ..."

Dr.Cajetan Coelho

God’s Sheep: The Ones Who Sleep ..."

"Greetings, Jeff, and bless you for your relentlessly regular fierce posts and your profound commitments ..."

DCF

Between: On the Person and Character ..."

"God as the Between, thoughts:As a child we were taught, in the blue or green ..."

madalyn baumstark

Between: On the Person and Character ..."

"Sometimes we make it harder than it is. Not saying things don't bring us to ..."

Patrick Dennis

Get Behind Me, Satan: A Death ..."

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Danny & Jeff fresh writings latest poetics north texas fellowship of reconciliation Sermon theology from death row Thoughts Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 July 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 May 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I became queen through a beauty contest, hiding my Jewish identity at my cousin's advice. Who am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Esther Ruth Sarah Vashti