Today we celebrate Epiphany- the revelation of God made real. Historically Epiphany started in the Eastern church in honor of the baptism of Jesus, something we will celebrate next week. The fact that Epiphany and the baptism of our Lord were linked was an epiphany, a revelation, to me, because I always saw epiphany as the time when God in Jesus is revealed to the world through the magi. Of course, Epiphany, January 6th, also marks the end of the 12 days of Christmas. But for most of us Epiphany is the revelation of God in Jesus at his birth, as declared by the Magi. Read text.
Lee and I went to Yosemite over the Christmas break. He had never been and I thought it was a wonderful time to see this majestic place in a new season. It had snowed a few days before we arrived so we brought chains with us. Fortunately, we did not need them, but I did almost slide into a car on an icy patch. Emerging from the tunnel with icicles dangling we got our first glimpse of the glorious valley: El Capitan and Half Dome in the distance. As we descended to the valley floor we discovered a magical dichotomy- summer and winter cohabiting. At Bridal Veil Falls the path was frozen over with sheets of ice, while Yosemite falls roared with rainbow mist like the height of summer. The sun warmed parts creating beautiful pictures, but the shaded parts were like a winter wonderland- I felt like I was in Narnia with the snow flocked trees. Of course, the night skies were amazing too. Looking up, Orion’s belt was pointing straight down, with the Big Dipper and Seven Sister nearby.
This reminded me of something my brother said on Christmas Day. He said we should all know how to navigate with a compass. Sitting around the fire sated by a holiday meal, my niece then pulled out her iPhone and showed her Compass App. We oriented to North. Then my brother reminded us of the way to find north in the night sky. First find the Big Dipper, AKA Ursa Major or big bear. This is the constellation that looks like a big ladle in the sky. Then follow the line made by the side of the cup, the side without the handle, and it will point you to Polaris- the North Star. Then to get your bearings, face the North Star, spread your arms wide and right hand will be due east, your left is west and south is behind you. From that one star all directions become clear.
We all have seen how the night sky moves and changes especially with the seasons. In the northern hemisphere, Orion is prominent in winter and Hercules and Sagittarius in the summer. But the sky we see changes a little bit every night. That is because the earth rotates in 23 hours and 56 mins. So we lose 4 minutes each night, or 2 hours every 30 days. So in 12 months we reach 24 hours and we will be back seeing the same night sky. The North star is constant because it above the celestial axis of the earth and as we rotate, we see different constellations of God’s universe.
Of course, the wise travelers knew a lot about the stars. They observed his star at its rising. They followed a star from their distant land to Bethlehem to find what God was showing them. They followed the star in spite of Herod. They followed the star to the child, the one constant in this endeavor. The star pointed to Jesus. The star is a symbol of divine revelation. The star is a sign, a wonder, a guidepost, even GPS on how to find your way.
Today it feels like we try to follow a star, any star really, that moves across the sky without realizing the constellations move. Or we follow different stars like the changing of the seasons. When people film themselves bullying a student and then post it on Facebook, when a person kills nine people praying in a church, when false facts are treated as real, I wonder if we know true north anymore. Do we have convictions about what is right and wrong rather than an anything goes attitude? Do we have a moral compass that works? I relate to Isaiah. Those are words for a people who are lost, who have lost their way and need a compass. They are seeking the light that will point them forward, they want a sign that will lead them back to God. It feels like we have lost our way and lost true north.
The magi followed a star that led them to Jesus. They also followed their principles that said we must leave everything to go and see. Their principles directed their lives. Following their principles, following that star, led them to Jesus. Jesus is our north star lighting the way in our darkness. Jesus is our moral compass showing us which way to go. Once the north star is revealed, the entire night sky makes sense. Once Jesus lives in your heart, your principles become clear. That is an epiphany, a revelation, that makes sense, that matters, that changes the direction of your life.
I discovered Downton Abbey over the break- I binge watched several seasons. Downton Abbey is PBS show about the Crowley family after the Great War in England. Maggie Smith played the Dowager Countess, the matriarch of the family who often had the best one liners. Like this one, “Principles are like prayers. They are noble but no one wants them at a party.” I want principles and prayers at a party. I want them in every moment of life. I want them to be the constant in our lives so that when we are lost with the sad news of a sudden passing of Jess Allen, our principles and prayers are the things to rest in and hold on to when it feels like the night sky keeps changing. Jesus is our true north. The star we follow like the Magi so long ago.
Jesus taught us those guiding principles every day of his life. When he asked us, “Who is your neighbor?” or gave us the great commandment to love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind and love your neighbor like yourself. Jesus fearlessly stood up to power so that justice prevailed, offered mercy and comfort to those in need, and depended on God in prayer.
I ask you, to encourage you to find a quiet place and spend 10 minutes writing down your true north, the principles you live by with Jesus as your guiding star. So much better than a new year’s resolution. Epiphany is the revelation of the divine. Declare your guiding Christian principles so that God is revealed in your life. In doing so you might be resetting your clock so that you see God’s universe as it is intended, traveling this life pointing north. Gaze at the star that guides, Jesus our north star, God in flesh who revealed God’s infinite love so that everything makes sense. Stand facing north, facing Jesus with your arms wide spread. Not to find east and west, but to welcome the world into your life allowing the principles of Christ to guide you. Amen.
