Reflection:

Happy New Year! We’ve entered a new year, the Year of the Blue Snake, according to the twelve zodiacs. May this year bring you abundant blessings, peace, and happiness.

Last week, on my way to church, I heard a radio announcer refer to January as a “season of detox,” a time when people cleanse their bodies after holiday indulgence to restore balance. Similarly, the season of Epiphany can be seen as a spiritual detox – a time to refresh and refocus on God’s mission.

Epiphany, the season of nine weeks between Christmas and Lent, often feels like a “down” time in the church year. After the excitement of Christmas, we might feel fatigued or affected by the winter gloom. Yet, Epiphany holds profound importance -it’s a time to reveal Christ to the world. 

The word “Epiphany” means “to show,” “to make known,” or “to reveal.”  We remember the coming of the Magi, the wise men who brought gifts to the Christ child and revealed him as King to the world. The story captivates us, perhaps because of its mystery, the special gifts, or their interactions with Herod. Whatever the reason, it is a story we cherish – Matthew’s powerful and dramatic account. 

Who were these wise men? The Greek term “Magi” is untranslatable, leaving many details uncertain. We don’t know exactly where they came from, how many there were, or even if there were all men. Were there women among them? Were they truly kings? 

Scholars suggest that the Magi were likely high-ranking priests among the Medes, an ancient Iranian people, similar to the Levites among the Jews. They were wise, skilled in astrology and astronomy. Some believe they had access to the Old Testament, including the prophecy of Micah about the Messiah’s coming. This knowledge, combined with their observations of the heavens, led them on a remarkable journey from a foreign land to Bethlehem to worship Jesus. 

In Matthew’s account, we see a paradox: the Jewish people, despite knowing the prophecies of the Messiah, ignored the birth of Christ, while the foreign Magi undertook a long journey to honour the newborn King. Herod, too, understood the significance of the Messiah’s arrival and was deeply disturbed by the Magi’s news. 

Herod ruled Israel for four decades, achieving success in governance and rebuilding the Temple. Yet, his extreme paranoia and obsession with power earned him the reputation of a “murderous old man” responsible for the deaths of his wife, in-laws, and even his sons. 

Agitated by the Magi’s question, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews?”  Herod began plotting to kill Christ, engaging the religious leaders. His paranoia culminated in the massacre of boys under two years old, forcing Jesus’ family to flee to Egypt. 

This narrative reveals two responses: the Magi, Gentiles outside God’s covenant, humbly sought the Messiah and found the light. In contrast, the Jewish people, though physically close to God’s covenant, rejected him. 

The Magi exemplify true worship: honouring Christ and offering what is most valuable. Their determination and humility allowed God to transform their lives – a model for all who seek him.

What did they gain from this journey? They found joy – overwhelming joy in the presence of the King of the kings. Joy in witnessing the love of God revealed in the Christ child. In seeing God’s greatest gift before their eyes, they experienced a moment of epiphany – a profound realization and encounter with the divine. 

But then, my question arises: what’s next? What did the Magi do after finding Jesus? Matthew tells us simply that they returned home. But their return wasn’t the end – it was the beginning of their transformed lives.

Matthew adds one crucial detail: “by another route.” This means that they heeded God’s warning in a dream and avoided Herod’s murder plot. But what does it mean to us, “by another route”?

It means that encountering Jesus requires us to take a new path – one of obedience to God. A transformed life demands courage and determination, as we must choose between contrasting paths: light or darkness, peace or agitation, joy or despair, humility or pride. Ultimately, we must choose either the way of the Magi or the way of Herod. 

As we gather today for the first worship service of the New Year, the busyness of the Christmas season is behind us, and many of us are already focused on our plans and resolutions. But consider adding one more resolution to your list: life transformation “by another route.” 

Let God’s greatest gift, Christ, guide our hearts. We may see a star – God’s guiding hand – in our spiritual journey. And when we do, we will be overjoyed, just as the Magi were. Amen.