On January 6 every year we remember the Magi – the Wise Outsiders – who travelled from a far away kingdom, following a star, to find the newborn King. (Matthew 2:1-12).
As we enter a new year we welcome the light of Christ, symbolised by the star the Wise Outsiders followed; and we welcome all wise ones from diverse places and perspectives, who come to us as outsiders, looking different from us, speaking different languages, engaging in different customs, holding different beliefs and world views, yet determined, with us, to follow the light of truth. With them we discover anew each year that the search for truth always leads to Jesus – because all light is the light of Christ.
This always reminds me of words from Simone Weil,
“one can never wrestle enough with God if one does so out of pure regard for the truth... If one turns aside from [Jesus] to go toward the truth, one will not go far before falling into his arms.” (Waiting for God)
Following the light of truth and welcoming outsiders. That’s what Epiphany is about. The story of the Wise Outsiders challenges our prejudices and pushes against our boundaries. Every year this story does that; and every year we need to be challenged again!
Because of those wise outsiders, the idea of following a star has become a metaphor for our ongoing search for God. If Jesus is the truth then we will keep seeking truth, wherever it might be found, for the rest of our lives. And that search will always lead us to Jesus. Again and again. More and more. If God is love then we will keep seeking love. And that search will always lead us to God. If God is peace, beauty, joy and goodness, we will keep seeking peace, beauty, joy and goodness, and we will keep finding God. When we follow a true star, it will always lead us to the creator of the stars and the mountains and oceans.
At St Paul’s, we distribute Star Words each Epiphany. These are words, written on stars, that help us set and reset our inner compass for the year. The words are all positive, all worth taking as our guides. As Paul said in Philippians 4:8
“whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Last year my eldest, Tom, wrote an app so that I can give you an online star word. Click on the star to receive your word. Then save the image to keep following the inspiration that word gives you through the New Year. If you used this app last year, there will be a new word for you this year.
You are very welcome to share this with your friends and congregations.
I like to use this blessing for Epiphany, adapted from one of Desmond Tutu’s prayers:
May the Lord disturb us when we are too well-pleased with ourselves, when our dreams have come true because we dreamed too little, because we sailed too close to the shore. May the Lord disturb us when, with the abundance of things we possess, we have lost our thirst for the water of life when, having fallen in love with time, we have ceased to dream of eternity and in our efforts to build a new earth, we have allowed our vision of Heaven to grow dim. May the Lord stir us to dare more boldly, to venture into wider seas where storms show God’s mastery, where, losing sight of land, we shall find the stars. May the God who pushed back the horizons of our hopes and invited the brave to follow; God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
Happy New Year!
With love from Rev Margaret
Always inspiring. I love the Desmond Tutu poem. My word is Singing! I wonder how I can use that idea… I think it could work for me in both actual and metaphorical applications.