Under The Bethlehem Star

We follow the Magi’s star past Herod’s fear to the deeper why of Epiphany: Jesus revealed as God’s love for all people. Memories of a city’s star invite us to name modern Herods, notice quiet signs of grace, and choose a path of justice and hope.

Chapters

• 0:00 The Gospel And The Star
• 2:26 A Childhood Under Bethlehem’s Light
• 5:00 From Spectacle To Meaning
• 6:51 Epiphany And Inclusion Of Gentiles
• 9:47 Hope Against Modern Herods
• 11:49 Seeing Everyday Signs Of Christ

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:00

Our gospel reading this morning comes from Matthew, the second chapter. In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem asking, Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star in the east 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 be to shepherd my people Israel. Then Herod secretly called for the Magi 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 in the east, 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. You may be seated. Grace and peace you from God and our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. I grew up under a star. I mean, we all did, we all had the night sky, but I grew up under a very special star. See, I was raised in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, named after the very city of David from our Christmas story, where Mary and Joseph traveled for the census, where shepherds and angels glorified God, where our Savior Jesus was born. Around 1937, My Little City of Bethlehem leaned into the wondrous story of its namesake and its modern heritage as the Christmas city. They revamped their Christmas decorations, did marketing around being a Christmas destination, but more importantly, they constructed a 25-foot-tall illuminated star on South Mountain whose light could be seen for miles and miles around the area. For years, it was only lit during the Advent and Christmas seasons. But starting in the 90s, it was lit every day from dusk until dawn. And this all-year lighting of the star is what I remember growing up with. I could see it from both my mom and my dad's house. I remember watching 4th of July fireworks displays under its watchful light, and standing in the middle of my cold and quiet street on Christmas Eve, finding comfort in its glow as I waited for local church bells to ring in Christmas morning. This star has borne witness to many moments in my life, to many heartfelt prayers and painful struggles. It is a star that when I visit my family warmly greets me and tells me I'm home. But its actual appearance we hear in our gospel reading this morning has played a more important one. We first hear of the star from Magi in the East who followed it to King Herod of Judea, looking for a child who would be king. And what we don't hear in our story, but what ancient readers would have understood, was that Herod was a corrupt client king, aligning himself with the injustices and cruelty of Rome rather than the oppressed people of his heritage. Now Herod, quite frightened from learning about a threat to his power, calls together his council to figure out where this king is said to be born. And his counsel recounts what prophets like Isaiah have foretold that a king will come out of Bethlehem, who will be the shepherd of Israel. Concerned with this news, Herod sends the Magi to locate the king, and when they do, to send him word so he could pay the new king homage, though that was never his actual intent. The magi left, yet again following the star, until they reached Bethlehem, where they met the child Jesus, bowed before him, and offered him gifts. Finally, having learned of Herod's malicious plans for the child in a dream, the Magi depart, making sure to not let Herod know where this new king was. It is quite easy to be transfixed by the star, and frankly, the whole story we hear today. It's a fascinating tale that has influenced parts of our culture. The political intrigue of Herod alone sounds like it should be coming from a novel like Game of Thrones. The journey of the magi has inspired songs and many traditions in the church, like the blessing we just did, and the giving of gifts this time of year. And the star, maybe the most recognizable symbol here, has not just been used in the marketing of My Little City, but has been used to represent hope in uncertain times. This story and its elements are important for sure. But it can be too easy to focus on the story and all its interesting components and not on what is actually important. The why. Why is the star there? Why is Herod scared? Why are the magi bringing gifts and following the star in the first place? The magi, the gifts, the star, even the part about Herod, point us to the why. A radical gift, an eternal light, the enduring presence and grace of God made manifest in Jesus Christ. The star and all other elements of our story are important because they point us to Emmanuel, God with us in Jesus Christ. This is a truth, a gift that we talk about at Christmas when we celebrate the incarnation of God through the birth of Jesus. But what is distinctly different about this story, the one we hear today as we celebrate Epiphany, is who Jesus is being revealed to. Jesus was born into a Jewish family and was first revealed into Jewish shepherds. At Epiphany, though, we see Jesus being revealed to the Magi, who were potentially Zoroastrian priests or scholars from the East, but were very likely not Jewish and thus were Gentiles. The God of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar, the God of Israel, was not just revealed to the chosen people, but beyond that, to the Gentiles and to the whole world. At Epiphany, we learn that the promises of God are not just for the people of Israel, but through Christ are made for the entire world. Paul, in our reading from Ephesians today, emphasizes this when he says that Jesus is not just for the Jewish people, but is for Gentiles too, and that his job is to bring everyone to the mystery of Christ. Through this mystery, through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, God's promises of grace, justice, and love are not only for the people of the ancient world, or even just for a select few people now, but are absolutely for all of us in the here and now. Our modern world seemingly teams with Herods, authorities and rulers who are unjust and cruel, using their power to further their own agendas and to feed their own desires. Encouraged as things are now, to just sit down and accept that this is reality. But this is not the truth. This is not how things should be. We have a God who is greater than Herod and our unjust rulers. God has gifted us a new king, one whom our call to worship proclaims, rescues the poor, and crushes the oppressor, one who redeems the lives of the needy from oppression and violence. One who rules righteously and with justice. God gave us his only Son, a new King, Jesus Christ, so that all creation may receive the love, hope, and justice it has been promised. No earthly ruler then or now will ever be able to take this promise from us. And the signs of this promise, the signs of Jesus in our world now, may not be as grand as a star in the night sky, but they are there. They are in the faces and actions of all those around us. It may be hard to see it, it may be hard even to accept it with all the chaos and noise the world throws at us. But with God's help, we can begin to see these signs, trust that God is with us, and hold fast to the hope that God's promises are and will be fulfilled. I remember the Star of Bethlehem I grew up with very fondly. But the comfort I find when gazing at it doesn't come from its actual light, but whose light it points to. It's a reminder of our God who became truly human for our sake, who understands our suffering and suffers alongside us, and who loves us more than we can ever imagine or comprehend. This star, the star of Bethlehem, points us to God's eternal presence with us in Christ Jesus. Now, friends, as we begin this new year of 2026, may God reveal to us signs of her eternal presence among us and help us to discern them. May God give us the strength and courage to live lives of compassion and justice that show the world around us the redemptive power of our true King. And finally, may we trust in God's promise made to us in Jesus Christ. That God's love and forgiveness are not just for a select few, but are for all people, for all creation. Nothing we or any power of this world can do will ever be able to take Christ away from us. Thanks be to God. Amen.