4 January 2015 - starry eyed wanderers

We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.

Let us follow the star this morning. Let us come to do homage to the newborn king. We need this king. He is heralded by a star because he himself is the light of the world. And we desperately need the light.

Maybe we haven't looked around lately. Maybe our heads are buried in the sand. If we look up we notice that this place we live is the valley of the shadow of death. We notice that "darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples". A brief glance at the news reveals politics, disease, and disaster. What else does it have to offer? Distractions: sports, movies, and the like. Forget the darkness, it seems to say. Look down. Bury your head.

This morning we hear a different message.

Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come,
the glory of the Lord shines upon you.

We are suspicious of reports of the light. Maybe that's why they aren't in the news as often as reports of darkness. We think that they are too specific and local and probably temporary to be of any use on the global scale. And for the same reason, we doubt they can do much for the darkness that marks our own lives and hearts. But this is no mere wavering candle flame this morning. This star blazes, calling not just a local few, but kings of nations to adoration.

The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts;
the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.
All kings shall pay him homage,
all nations shall serve him.

This light is more than enough to cast out the darkness. This is the light, finally, that all of the darkness cannot overcome. It is enough, not just for the Jews, but for we Gentiles as well.

that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body,
and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

We too are allowed, called, and commanded to do homage to the king that this light heralds. Yes, it relatives earthly power. In so far as we are Herod we do have cause to be greatly troubled. This changes everything. This casts down the mighty from their thrones and lifts up the lowly. And this paradigm is raised to a global scale as the kings of nations bow down to worship. It is no longer possible to keep our heads buried in the sand. The old "security" is stripped from us and we are greatly troubled along with Herod. But let us not do what Herod does. Let us embrace the new security in place of the old ignorance. Let us embrace the new light that shines in the old darkness.

To the child we find let us surrender every paradigm of value we know. Let us surrender political leadership with our gold, religious leadership with our frankincense, and self-centered pride as we anoint his body for burial with myrrh.

This star shines brightly enough for the whole world. But it reveals a newborn infant king. He is enough for the nations, yes. But he is also real enough, concrete enough, individual enough, for each of our hearts. Come, let us worship.

O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy Perfect Light