Gold, frankincense, and myrrh

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Star of Wonder

Salt of the Sound

Today is Tuesday the 6th of January, the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord.

Salt of the Sound sings, ‘Star of Wonder’.

Star of wonder

Star of royal beauty bright

Shine your light on earth below

Guide the way

For a King

Wise men bring their gifts of gold

Sweet perfume and precious oil

Holy anointing

Gloria, gloria...

Empty handed

Can I come just as I am?

Or like a shepherd, bring a lamb?

A humble offering

Gloria, gloria...

In the heavens

Gloria, gloria...

Gloria

O come let us adore Him

O come let us adore Him

O come let us adore Him

Christ the Lord (So we sing gloria...)

Gloria, gloria...

Peace to earth

3:13

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.

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.

5:32

paper sun

Antarctic Wastelands, Be Still the Earth

There are many strands of metaphorical meaning in today’s reading. Jesus is God’s gift to all people, whatever their race, here represented by these visitors from the East. Jesus is universal.

The gifts symbolise his status: gold for a king; frankincense used in the worship of God to point to his divinity; and myrrh, used to anoint the dead, a reminder that his way of proclaiming God’s Kingdom will bring opposition and death.

That opposition is seen in the brooding presence of Herod. He represents one facet of the earthly powers that resists who Jesus is.

All of the intriguing and radical nuances of meaning here. Imagine a first century Christian community hearing this story and catching it all.

How would it feel to hear this story told for the first time?

Listen again and note the various symbols which are strewn through this passage. Do any of these grip you?

8:09

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.

10:26

If you could bring Jesus any gift today, what would it be? Make him an offering of your desire.

12:10

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be

World without end

Amen