The Feast of the Epiphany and Baptism - January 4, 2026

Summary

Mother Suzanne reflects on the Feast of Epiphany and the journey of the Magi, who were outsiders and stargazers who followed a star to worship the newborn King of the Jews. She draws parallels between the Magi's pilgrimage and our own spiritual journeys, encouraging us to follow Christ's light into unknown places courageously. The sermon emphasizes that darkness can never overcome the light and challenges us to be bearers of that light to those who sit in darkness.

THE GOSPEL                                                                                                                  Matthew 2:1-12

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." When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

`And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
 are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for from you shall come a ruler
 who is to shepherd my people Israel.'"

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. 

Artwork:  The Magi, by Henry Siddons Mowbray (1858–1928)

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Transcript

Mother Suzanne:

Well, the selected scriptures throughout the season of Epiphany, and that is our celebration today, the Feast of Epiphany. These scriptures that we will read, these scriptures that we will study, will help us to understand Jesus's identity as God's incarnate. And it begins with the revelation of the great star that the Magi followed. The first outside of Jesus's own family to understand the importance of his birth. Can you imagine for just a second setting out from your homeland with the purpose of finding a baby guided only by a star? That really kind of sounds crazy, doesn't it? Well, this is exactly what the magi did. Of course, it's not too far off as the magi did have stars in their wheelhouse. These magi were stargazers, or in some words, they were astrologers. And they are the ones who set out on a pilgrimage in order to find and then worship the king of the Jews who had just been born.

They were most likely three members of the priestly cast of Zora Astronism, noted for their study of the stars as part of their own religion. So they didn't even believe in a monotheistic God. But once they saw the star, they moved. And that's why it seems fitting that the stargazers, these magi are part of the story of the entry of God into the world in the form of a teeny, tiny baby. They, along with the shepherd's journey to find a baby that somehow they all knew would make the world as it had never been before.

The unlikeliest group of folks took the unlikeliest journey to find a king that their hearts had been waiting for. And perhaps this is the reason why Herod had a sudden interest in this baby's birth. Herod pays attention because it might threaten the removal of his own power. Remember, Harrod was always about power. And I'm not sure if the Magi picked up on this craftiness of Harod or his ill intentions, but God came to them in a dream, just like God came to Joseph in a dream. And God told them not to return to Herod, to leave the country and go another way. And so they obeyed God and they left by another way.

These Magi, they were keen in their sensibilities, proper in their adoration and worship, and wise in knowing and obeying directions from God. All of this from those who weren't really supposed to know or understand any of it, and yet they did. As I spoke on Christmas Eve, the shepherds were the outsiders. Again, the magi too are outsiders. They are really the ones who know what it's happening in this story that's being written. God seems to do whatever it takes to reach out to, to embrace all people. God announces the birth of the Messiah to shepherds through angels on Christmas and to the Magi via a great big, beautiful star on epiphany.

We are like the Magii too. All of us in this room, if you have shown up here, are on a quest, a journey, a pilgrimage. And I hope the pilgrimage that you are on is one in which you're seeking the sacred light of the world. There's another word for it. It's the spiritual path. Sometimes the journey is literal, outward and away, but often we journey inside. This is not only for our sake, but for the sake of others as well, that we might carry and share this light that we have been given. And once we have that light, we can't help but want to share that light.

If you remember in Advent, we kindled a light in the darkness and watched it grow over the weeks as we anticipated Christ's birth. During Christmas, we celebrate the arrival of the light of the world. And in the season of epiphany, we crown the season of Christmas with the fullness of that light. And it is my hope that we will carry it deeply into our hearts, but also out into the world. So I asked this morning, what invitation is God holding out to you with an epiphany this year? Another pointed question, is there a journey you need to make or the fulfillment of a promise you are still seeking?

Is the light that once burned brightly just barely a glow or is it extinguished or are you at a place where you can courageously walk before those who need to see the light that burns so brightly within? To offer hope, to offer comfort, to be a reminder that better days will and do come. Another pointed question. Are you willing to be the light for those who sit in darkness? Well, whatever circumstances you find yourself in this morning, darkness can and never, ever will overcome the light, ever. The great comfort of the light of epiphany is that it's both balm and motivation for something better, for something more.

And that, my friends, I feel is the real gift of what happens when we shine a light in dark places, especially in our own lives. What happens is we see as we haven't seen before, we recognize pain and discord perhaps we weren't willing to see before. And when light has made its way in, when eyes are finally open, when we're finally willing to lighten the dark places inside, this miracle happens. Space opens up for us to linger and to rest in the not knowing. This is a hard place to be at times, but the hope of epiphany is that the light of Christ will be with you and with me, illuminating and revealing all the ways that Christ is present to us.

Dear people of grace, may we courageously venture as the magi did to those unknown places and the Owen family, that's the road that you are on. Wherever they may be for you and for me, believing that the light of Christ will lead us, strengthen us, and show us a way of life we haven't known before. I say this as much to myself as to you. Be brave as you follow the light, knowing that the light always overcomes darkness. And as a beautiful example of that this morning, we celebrate the baptism of Alison Clementine. What a beautiful name. Allison, may you be an example to all of Grace Church, that the light of Christ burns brightly within you and within us. Amen.