Communion
Meditation by Dr. George Bryant Wirth
Epiphany Communion
AT THE TOP OF THE ESCALATOR
Scripture: Luke
2:21-40
INTRODUCTION
“Epiphany” is one of the
oldest festival celebrations in our Christian tradition, going all the way back
to the second century A.D. The word
comes from the Greek “epiphaneia,” meaning “appearance,” or “manifestation,” or
“revelation,” all wrapped up in the incarnation and the visit by the wise men
who came to see the Christ Child sometime after He was born in Bethlehem (see
“Calendar of Christianity: The Origins and Meaning of Christian Holidays and
Holy Days” by Allan Hauck, Association Press, 1961, pages 76-90).
January 6 has been the
official date of Epiphany since the third century, and today it is celebrated
by Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Protestant Christians around the world.
Most of us have images in
mind of what that scene with the wise men might have looked like, influenced by
Renaissance paintings, Christmas pageants, and all of the holiday cards we’ve
received depicting the Magi on their camels following the star in the sky,
often with the words below: “Wise Men Still Seek Him.”
But there’s one picture that
most of you don’t know about, found on a Gary Larson card given to me by Martha
Olson years ago. It shows three kings
with their gifts in hand, greeting an angel who is frowning at the door of the
stable as he glares at a fourth figure slinking away into the night, hiding a
box in his hands with an embarrassed look on his face. The caption reads: “Unbeknownst to most
theologians, there was a fourth wise man who was turned away for bringing a
fruitcake.”
I
The story about that first
Epiphany to the wise men is revealed in Matthew’s gospel, chapter two. Turning to the Gospel of Luke, we discover
another Epiphany moment after Jesus was born – it happened in the
Mary and Joseph brought their
child to the priests for the rite of purification, similar to our sacrament of Christian baptism. And there were two older adults in the
congregation whom Luke tells us had been watching and waiting for the
appearance, the manifestation, the revelation, the Epiphany of the Holy Child.
One was named Simeon, who is
described as a “righteous and devout man looking for the consolation of
The other person waiting
there with great expectation was a prophetess named Anna, an 84 year old widow,
who “began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking
for the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:36-38).
Although we don’t know
exactly what Anna said that day, Luke does record Simeon’s prophetic
declaration this way:
Lord,
now let your servant depart in peace, according to Your word, for my eyes have
seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a
light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel (Luke 2:29-32).
You see, both Anna and Simeon
were watching and waiting with eager anticipation for the appearance, the
manifestation, the revelation – the Epiphany of God’s Holy Son. And when they saw Him, as they recognized who
He was, the entire congregation joined with them in joyful celebration!
II
On the Friday evening just
before Christmas, I saw something like that happen at
And then it happened! A little baby girl, wrapped in a pink blanket
and in the arms of her mother, appeared at the top of the escalator and
everyone there was dazzled as the grandparents covered and cuddled that child
with love. Some folks started to cry,
and as our young adult daughter finally arrived, I was transported back in time
to the day she was born, and the same with our son, and I am certain that all
parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, god-fathers and god-mothers can
remember too when all of our children were brand new and just beginning their
journey in life.
It was an Epiphany for
me. And then on Christmas Eve, I
discovered in reading the morning paper, that Gayle White, an elder here and
one of the top reporters for the AJC – she had been there too, at the top of
the escalator, and actually written the stories about six families who were
also photographed at the moment of their epiphany, including “Jenny Rogan, of
Columbus, Ohio, who obviously fell in love at first sight as she laid eyes on
Arnold Brunson II, whose parents from Athens, Georgia, call him Deuce. ‘Hey
baby’ said Jenny, gazing adoringly.
‘It’s grandma’! (From an article
by Gayle White, “Hugs and Hellos,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution, December 24,
2007, Section B, Page 1)
And I couldn’t help but think
of old Anna and Simeon in the Temple of Jerusalem, rejoicing as they saw the
long-awaited Holy Child who finally had appeared to them, offering hope and
healing to anyone who was willing to believe and receive God’s gift of
salvation.
III
So I’m wondering today, on
this Epiphany Sunday 2008 – I’m wondering what all of us here are watching and
waiting for as we begin another new year.
Some of us may have come into
this sanctuary with heavy hearts, regretful about the past, fearful in the
present and less than hopeful about the future.
Others may have arrived feeling
overwhelmed by the stress and struggle of life, with places to go, deadlines to
meet, and far too many burdens to carry that feel like over-packed suitcases,
bursting at the seams.
Moreover, there are people
sitting in these pews, or worshipping with us through radio and television, who
are seeking forgiveness within their families and reconciliation where
relationships have been broken.
There are those here today
who are simply hoping that this new year will turn out better than last year,
and many more who are already praying that the world will become a better and
less bitter and more peaceful place in 2008.
However it is that you have
come here this morning, and whatever you are watching and waiting for in your
life, let me leave you with a story and remind you of a promise that is
centered in Jesus Christ.
The story is one you may
remember about the birth of Charlie Brown’s little sister, and how concerned he
was about the condition of the world she had entered into. He shared a long litany of worries with his
young friend Linus, who finally interrupted the gloom and doom predictions by
saying, “Charlie Brown, I think that the world is better today than it was six
years ago.”
Charlie protested: “Don’t you
read the papers? Don’t you watch the TV
news? How can you say that the world is
better today than six years ago?” Linus
looked at him and answered, “Because I am in it now.”
That’s the story, and here is
the promise. Ever since His birth in
Bethlehem and His Epiphany in the Temple of Jerusalem; ever since His ministry
on earth, and His death on the cross and His resurrection from the grave – for
almost 2000 years, this world is different now because Jesus is here in it with
us. He has promised to be with us
always, even to the close of the age, and that is a promise He will keep.
His light has conquered the
darkness, His love is stronger than hate, His hope can heal our despair, and
His peace will overcome our fear, in this world and in the next!
CONCLUSION
My friends: if we believe and
trust that His promise is true, then Jesus Christ is ready to call us into
action, saying “I have work for you to do – at the top of the escalator of
life, and down at the bottom in the valley of the shadow. You see, we have all been called to work for
His kingdom on earth.
So,
When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost
To heal the broken
To feed the hungry
To release the prisoner
To rebuild the nations
To make peace among God’s people
And to make music in the heart.
(Howard Thurman)
May it be so as we watch and
wait and work for Christ’s kingdom on earth in this new year 2008.
In the name of the Father,
and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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