Breaking open the Word

 
Isaiah 60:1-6
Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6
Matthew 2:1-12
 
If you look at all of the Old Testament scripture readings we use in the lectionary, one thing that should jump out at us is the fact that we read from Isaiah more than any other Old Testament scripture. Even if you don’t have a lectionary as a reference book, just think about how many times we listen to it in our Sunday liturgies.
 
There are good reasons why this is done. First, we need remember we are listening to the ancient stories of the history of Israel, and how they evolved as a people and a nation over time. For the Jews, the telling of their stories, from the exodus are an important part of their history as a people.
 
Second, more than most other Old Testament scriptures, Isaiah has references that the writers of the New Testament use when they referrer to Jesus and His ministry. They reference the virgin birth and His passion and death as ways to show how God was working through individuals to write the scriptures, both in the Old and New Testaments.
 
As a reminder, Isaiah is written over several hundred years, by many individuals. We hear today from what is known as Third Isaiah. Chapters 56-66 are similar in nature to Second Isaiah, but they come from later time period in the sixth century BC. This time frame is after the Israelites have returned from the Babylonian exile to the harsh realities of life in Jerusalem and surrounding cities that had been destroyed, the temple laying in ruins, the economy and legal systems fractured and torn apart and justice system that was nonexistent. This is far from what they were expecting to see upon their return. They expected to see the glory and experience the idyllic land promised to them by their ancestors.
 
They expected that their God would be there for them, would make Jerusalem the center of the known world. They would welcome all foreigners as they came forth with all kinds of goods to help rebuild the city.
 
In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians that we read today there is a great emphasis on the fact that the message he is writing about has been revealed before. However, by the fact that it is the Apostle Paul who is writing to them, the Apostolic Tradition is reinforced. This handing on of faith to the Gentiles is showing them that God has included them in His plan of salvation for all people. This revelation from God to Paul goes along with the Holy Spirit revealing God’s plan to the apostles after Jesus had been crucified. It is by God’s grace that all are part of the same inheritance as originally sent to the Jews.
 
Matthew’s gospel today focuses on the Magi who come to do homage to the new born King of the Jews. Can you just imagine the scandal that caused among the people? Who could claim such a title, who could dare to disrupt the balance of power that existed between the Jews and the Romans? Why would a group of foreigners make such a long journey and bring gifts of great value to a baby in a stable?
 
The meaning of Epiphany is revelation. It is God’s revelation that He is sending His only Son into our world to bring us salvation through His death and resurrection. The Jews for centuries did not listen to God’s messages from Moses, and the prophets. The first to recognize God’s revelation are the non-Jews who come to recognize this great event in salvation history.
 
This revelation, this recognition of God’s grace acting in the lives of His creation by the Gentiles, the Magi, is yet another sign that God’s grace was not just given to the Jews.
 
When our hearts are open to listen to God acting in our lives, when our minds are uncluttered from the day to day things we deal with as human beings, when we take the time to listen to our spirits communicating with the Holy Spirit, then we will be able to recognize God acting in our lives. The revelation to the Magi that God has created a savior for all of us should inspire us to look for God’s saving actions in our lives too.