“Courageous Defiance” Colchester Federated Church, January 4, 2026, Epiphany Sunday (Matthew 2:1-12)

On Epiphany Sunday we celebrate the revelation of Jesus Christ to all nations, represented by the magi from the east who come to worship the Christ child.  Historian Diana Butler Bass reflects that, “The traditional themes of Epiphany are light, glory, sight, revelation, and enlightenment.  The seasonal cycle begins with the story of the Magi—three learned mystics—following a star, a journey that takes them to Jesus, God’s promise birthed into the world, wonder embodied as a tiny child.”[1] 

It’s amazing to contemplate the willingness of these wise people to follow the light of the Christmas Star to find the messiah.  Matthew tells us, “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the territory of Judea during the rule of King Herod, magi came from the east to Jerusalem.  They asked, ‘Where is the newborn king of the Jews?  We’ve seen his star in the east, and we’ve come to honor him.’”[2] 

Now who were the magi anyway?  Professor Elisabeth Johnson relates that the magi were most likely astrologers, maybe even Zoroastrian priests who came to Bethlehem from Persia (modern-day Iran).  We know they were Gentiles, and didn’t seem to know Jewish Scriptures.  Johnson writes, “But they do know how to read the stars.  God reaches out to them and leads them through what they already know.  In the ancient world, stars and other signs in the heavens were thought to signal important events.  In this case, a bright star rising leads them to discern that a royal birth has occurred in Judea.  So they come bringing gifts fit for royalty—gold and frankincense and myrrh.”[3]  It may seem a little strange, but interpreting signs in the stars and the alignment of planets were common practices for ancient peoples.  Humans are meaning making creatures, and we sometimes look to natural phenomena to make meaning.

So the magi were likely Persian astrologers who interpreted the star that appeared in the east to mean that there was a newborn King.  What they saw as the star could have been the light of the Great Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter.  Modern Astronomers have tried to figure out what the night sky might have looked like around the time that Jesus was born.  No matter what celestial happenings were going on, those wise people followed.  That took a great deal of faith and courage.  And because of their courageous journey of faith, the story of Jesus’ birth changes on Epiphany.  Because Christians can celebrate Jesus Christ as the light of the world.

Moreover, the magi are inspirational in their courageous defiance of an unjust ruler in King Herod.  These wise ones courageously defied Herod who asked them to tell him where he could find Jesus so that he too could go and honor the child.  The magi saw through his treachery.  And they achieved what they set out to do.  The magi followed the star and saw that it had stopped over the place where the child was.  The magi were overwhelmed with joy.  They entered the house and saw the child with Mary, kneeling down and honoring him.  The magi opened up their treasure chests and offered their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  Though they had been warned in a dream to not return to Herod.  So “they left for their own country by another road.”[4]  Courageous defiance.  Trusting your gut instincts.  Knowing when something just isn’t right and going home by another road.  There is much to be inspired by in this story! 

Epiphany Sunday serves as a pivotal moment between Christmas and the season of Epiphany that follows.  It’s a moment where we are invited to see the extraordinary in the everyday events and occurrences of our lives.  Each year our congregation members receive a star word on Epiphany Sunday that is a word to reflect upon during the year ahead.  The hope is that the word could guide you on your way just as the magi followed the Christmas Star to find the newborn King.  Nicole cuts out the colorful array of stars.  I write a word on each one.  We are invited to place our stars where we will see them regularly to consider God’s movements in our lives, movements that may just be connected to our star.

What you may or may not know is that my parents—mystical visitors from the Midwest—have made it a tradition to pick a star before they head back home to Ohio after all the Christmas festivities.  One year the star word my mother received was hospitality.  Debbie wondered what this could mean.  Hospitality on the surface means being friendly and generously receiving guests, visitors, or strangers.  Of course my mother receives people with goodwill and welcome, she’s a sweet Midwesterner after all! 

Yet little did Debbie know that it would end up being a year where more guests were hosted in my parents’ home than they had probably ever received before.  My Aunt Terry retired after decades working for an insurance company.  Aunt Lynlee flew in from Idaho and Uncle Sam flew in from Colorado to surprise her at the retirement party.  My mom hosted her siblings.  Then Maureen and Scott decided to come home for a visit and brought their friends Gordon and Barb (all of whom live in Washington state).  My mom hosted her daughter and son-in-law and their friends.  My cousin from Colorado brought her children to visit family in Ohio while her husband was deployed in Japan.  My mom hosted her niece and the kids.  That also happened to be the year that I was on Sabbatical.  I spent 16 days at my parents’ house (the longest we’ve been under the same roof in forever).  That visit ended with Neill coming to spend a few days in Wadsworth and picking me up to drive back to Connecticut together.  So my mom hosted her youngest daughter and beloved son-in-law.  We are nomadic by nature on mom’s side of the family and live all throughout the country, but so many family members and dear friends enjoyed the hospitality of my parents during that one year in particular.  And all throughout the visits it gave my mother delight to see her star word—hospitality—proudly displayed on the refrigerator as probably another guest helped themselves to more food and drink and good cheer.

In truth, every time a new year begins we have no idea what lies in store.  Sometimes we look back upon a year with regret or heartache.  Sometimes it has been the best year ever, and we almost don’t want it to end.  Though the hope is for open hearts, for all of us to take inspiration from the magi looking for signs like the star in the sky alighting over the place where Jesus was and bravely following where the path would lead.  Thanks be to God for new adventures and for bright stars in the sky.  Amen.

[1] Diana Butler Bass, A Beautiful Year: 52 Meditations on Faith, Wisdom, and Perseverance, pg. 77.
[2] Matthew 2:1-2, CEB.
[3] Elisabeth Johnson, Commentary on Matthew 2:1-12, Working Preacher, January 6, 2022, https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/epiphany-of-our-lord/commentary-on-matthew-21-12-11
[4] Matthew 2:12, NRSVUE.

Photo by Mike Setchell on Unsplash