Sermon for Epiphany preached at the Eucharist, Sherborne Abbey on Sunday 5 January 2025 by The Reverend Rebecca McDonnell (Isaiah Ch 60: v 1 – 6; Matthew Ch 2: v 1 – 12)
‘Getting back to normal’ seems to be the general desire at the beginning of the new year, especially for those who started celebrating Christmas on the first of December. For those whose Christmas started only when the awe-filled season of Advent finished in its own due time, we do not feel we are bored with Christmas and the glorious mystery and miracle of the Incarnation – which is a good thing because now we are privileged to witness God’s showing of His Son not only to the people of Israel but to everyone – through the visit of the Magi to the Holy Family – truly an Epiphany – ‘manifestation’, when light scattered the darkness of a world ruled by the Roman Empire that had abandoned God. And so it was, back almost eight centuries before Christ’s birth:
“Nations will come to your light,
and kings to your dawning brightness.”
As we heard in one of the final chapters of the prophet Isaiah – more beautiful poetry hymning the future of Jerusalem after all the trials and tribulations of God’s beloved children – many in exile in Babylon.
Matthew’s Gospel written with a Jewish audience in mind is the only gospel to recount the journey of the Magi and the revelation they beheld. The Epiphany may be regarded as a myth or construct by some to encourage the Jewish people to see their scriptural prophesies fulfilled in the person of Christ and his birth narrative – but many scholars acknowledge that the Magi were Persian priests probably from the neighbouring empire of Parthia – possibly of the Zoroastrian faith – men accorded high status – a sort of religious civil service in their own countries and whose charting of the heavenly constellations meant that they were regarded as prophets and interpreters of the times.
These great men were prepared to journey in dangerous conditions to visit an unknown and possibly hostile country to see something that they realised was extraordinary and beyond their experience and knowledge. When they reached their destination, overcome by the Holy Spirit, they bowed down in homage to the tiny child they suddenly understood to be a King beyond all other Kings they had known.
Out of their store cupboards they gave rich gifts of gold and Frankincense and Myrrh – rich both in wealth and in symbolism – and again we hear from Matthew’s account, Isaiah’s prophecy –
‘And all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and incense and proclaiming the praise of the Lord.’
Tonight, on the eve of the 12th night of Christmas, or tomorrow, on Epiphany Day itself, many Christians will be chalking their doors with a special epiphany blessing. I wonder if this is a custom you have come across before. It harks back to the Israelites marking their doors so the angel of death would pass over them. The chalking is to ask God’s blessing over your house in the year to come and to keep evil spirits out. It is also a reminder of the Holy Families hospitality towards the visiting Magi, men from the East and gentiles.
The marking on the door reads 20 ✝ C ✝ M ✝ B ✝ 25. The numbers refer to the calendar year 2025 and in between each one the ‘plus’ is a cross. The letters C, M, and B stand for the traditional names of the Magi, Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar. They also stand for the Latin blessing Christus mansionem benedicat ‘May Christ bless this house.’
Considering this tradition, I would like to invite all of you to chalk and so bless your homes today. In a moment I will be blessing some chalk so you can all take home one piece per household. And there are instructions on what to chalk, and prayers you can say at home to ask God’s blessing and protection over your home in the year to come. It also calls for God’s blessings on visitors to your home and those to whom you offer hospitality, following in the example of the visiting Magi to Mary and Joseph.
‘What can I bring’ is so often what we say when being invited to a party or dinner – and surely something we have all said over the Christmas season – it is as if bringing myself is not enough – perhaps by adding a dessert or some bottles of wine I might be more acceptable as a guest?
And yet we are not asked to bring or give anything except ourselves when we too, dare to creep before the manger – just ourselves – our poverty, our love and our desire to be lit from within with the light of Christ – that we might show him to the world as we live our own lives.
How might we be open to revelation of Christ in our lives? Will we look up and out as the Magi did – and discover that there are new friends to make, new people to love and a bigger space in our hearts for Jesus to inhabit.
Perhaps we could begin at home – after all, the Magi called at Mary and Joseph’s home circumstances – temporary though they may have been – and there discovered all truth and simplicity and joy.
Our homes are where we too would like to find those things and where we hope our visitors would find such a welcome. To make this happen we need a little help – something that will illuminate God’s love so that through us, He can turn on the light for others.
And the answer is simple – God in Jesus should be a presence in our homes, a permanent guest who has been invited into our lives, a place at our table, a listener to each conversation, a guide for our troubles, and a blessing in times of thanksgiving.