You might remember if you were able to attend the last Sunday service we did together that there were several holiday trivia questions. We learned all sorts of interesting tidbits about the origins of many of our current Christmas traditions.
What would the new year be without another trivia question to satisfy our inquiring minds? Today’s question has to do with Epiphany, the last of the 12 Days of Christmas, which occurs tomorrow.
You probably know that the word ‘epiphany’ means revelation – I have had an epiphany about why my father always loved the story of Rudolph.
Our question today is…There are two events in Jesus’ life other than the visit of the Magi – the Three Wise Men – that some Christians associate with Epiphany. Anyone know what they are? [Jesus getting baptized and changing the water into wine at the wedding- two other significant moments of revelation of the significance of this man and of God’s love manifested through Him].
We westerners obviously focus mostly on the story of the mysterious Magi arriving in Jerusalem, then making their way to Jesus in Bethlehem by the guidance of a star, offering their gifts, and then returning home another way.
The only specific information scripture offers about these people that tradition refers to as ‘magi’ are that they came from the east. We are not told how many of them there were, their names, what their means of transportation was, or the country or countries from which they came.
By the way, the word “Magi” comes from the Latin word magi, which comes from the Greek word magos, meaning “Persian priest, sorcerer”. Intriguing, isn’t it?
In the absence of data, we’ve conjured our own images. We three kings. Were there three? Were they kings? Were they even all he’s? They’re just referred to as ‘they’.
Look at the picture on the bulletin. This is a typical representation…three individuals, on camels, being led by a star..
While there are lots of mysteries surrounding this particular Biblical story, the metaphor of a seeking soul sojourning to Jesus offers just as much applicability today.
Imagine for a moment that one of the travelers is you.
It’s a new year, you’ve decided not to change, but continue to deepen, to foster transformation. You want to mindfully progress spiritually.
So there are some considerations.
Who do you choose to travel with you? This isn’t necessarily your significant other because this is a soulful sojourn, and therefore you’re not subject to the usual confinements.
With whom in your life would you choose to ascend a metaphorical camel, to journey to a place that was not entirely familiar, to discover aspects of yourself, of life, of your faith? To meet Jesus in a personal way like you never have before?
I would ask you what you would choose to bring, but this journey doesn’t require physical packing, does it?
There is baggage, of course, because we all have baggage. As you might guess, we’re not talking about the Samsonite variety.
This type of baggage isn’t so easily packed, and certainly isn’t easy to unpack.
But what exists is there, and is part of the trip because it can’t not be.
Your baggage is almost (not quite, but almost) the sole reason for the trip.
This baggage is the stuff each of us carry along, which isn’t an inherent part of you, but has evolved (or devolved) as being part of the ‘You’ package, for now, anyway.
If you take the time and ponder, would you have a revelation – an epiphany – about what your baggage is?
We all have baggage…regrets, hurts and fears, habits through the years, that keep us from fully experiencing God’s enveloping love.
Understanding that baggage, being able and willing to unpack it mindfully, thoughtfully, emotionally so that you might experience more lightness of being through the releasing of some of it, is a central purpose for a journey such as the Magi made.
Lisa, her sister and her fiancé (Donnelle and Dave), and I were sitting around the New Years Eve dinner table, each of us sharing about baggage that we’d like to release in the new year.
We didn’t use the word ‘baggage’ but we might as well have.
I went last, and as I was sitting there listening and contemplating for myself, I went by the usual suspects of losing a few pounds, eating healthier. Yes, these things are on the Definitely Do List.
But I wanted a deeper Definitely Do, something that’s part of my movement in the world that takes me off course from my journey to and with Jesus.
And then it occurred to me. My internal engine idles a little fast. Not always, but much of the time.
It’s a fabulous attribute if you’ve got a big project like, say, painting a house.
But in my spiritual life, in the foundational part of my existence, it’s a bit of a challenge for me to slow the idle down.
If I slow down enough to think about (o’ the irony!) I know that I’m running a fraction of a step faster than the currents of the Universe.
Is it propelling me off way off course? No.
But if I don’t work on slowing my roll just a tad, will I end up looking back over my life and know that I wasn’t perfectly in step with the dance of grace? Yeah.
Thinking about what’s happened, what’s to come, what needs to be done…my head often elsewhere from the perfection of this moment, of being enveloped in love.
That will be a part of my work in this coming year. What will yours be…what baggage would you like to finally set down and be free of?
I invite you to write it down on your slip of paper and bring it to the burning bowl.
You remember I said earlier that addressing your baggage is almost the sole reason for your trip.
But there’s another purpose as well. It’s the bringing of gifts. We all have gifts.
It’s imperative in our life’s journey that we recognize them.
Doing so fosters gratitude. We know these gifts, we use and enjoy these gifts, especially when they are a part of our consciousness.
Another point of consideration for a fresh start is… what are the gifts you bring? It’s not about ego, but about humble and grateful acknowledgement.
A gift I bring is loving openly, with words, with action, with energy. People know I love them, and I’m deeply blessed with this gift. What’s yours?
Imagine that, like the Magi, you are bringing your gift to Jesus, to God, to the Universe.
Imagine that, through the long journey that is your life, through all the hardship and battles that you endure, your precious gift remains to be offered.
I’m going to share a video with you that depicts such a trip.
As you watch, please imagine it’s you on your journey, bringing, offering your gift.
Little Drummer Boy for KING + COUNTRY – Little Drummer Boy (Official Music Video)
We mentioned at the beginning that Epiphany is the last of the 12 days of Christmas. If we embrace letting go of the baggage that holds us down, as well as celebrating our gifts to bring, then the meaning of Christmas becomes clear.
Speaking to this are the words of Howard Thurman in the piece he entitled Now the Work of Christmas Begins.
When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and princes are home,
when the shepherds are back with their flocks,
the work of Christmas begins:
to find the lost,
to heal the broken,
to feed the hungry,
to release the prisoner,
to rebuild the nation,
to bring peace among the people,
to make music in the heart.
There will be music made in my heart when I hear some of your insights from what we’ve experienced today. I’m especially interested to hear about what your gifts are. So often we downplay these blessings!
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