Epiphany 2021
INTRO: When we were kids………….. We used to put up a sign on our bedroom door which said
KEEP OUT!
I guess we did that because we were mad at our brothers and sisters or parents or we wanted nothing to do with others or maybe we were just claiming our own territory.
Somehow within us began a sentiment that was really not CHRISTIAN, not CHRIST-LIKE, not welcoming of others, but divisive and contentious.
I have this image of JESUS that he would never have put up a sign like that.
He wanted UNITY and inclusivity with His brothers and sisters.
He wanted others to come to him.
He saw differences in his brothers and sisters, but that didn’t matter. Sometimes we see differences in others and it matters to us and we become divisive, maybe even cruel.
Jesus wanted to be with everyone: Jew, Greek, men, women, children, Pharisee, Sadducee, Roman, and Gentiles
His way was seeing ALL OTHERS uniquely and beautifully made!
He did this with the MAGI from the EAST. They were of different origin, different creeds, and different countries. Jesus accepted them and welcomed them into his home!
That kind of acceptance is not happening all the time in our world and in our country and even in our families.
Some of us get mad at the differences and choices of people. And you know, truly ……. People are allowed to have differences and still should be accepted, loved and embraced.
When Scripture talks about this EPIPHANY, this MAGI, scholars are saying that JESUS accepted ALL NATIONS ……………as the MAGI actually came from different corners of the known world… they didn’t know each other… they met on the way…. Different nationalities ….Because of the STAR
AND
Jesus saw them with HIS EYES and welcomed them each from their own country…..
Teaching us to do the same … welcoming people from other countries, other walks of life, those different from the way we live and act.
That is THE KINGDOM OF GOD on earth as JESUS initiated;
The unity and inclusivity of all nations!
CONCLUSION
Make this NEW YEAR one where we forget the past angers, prejudices, and harsh judgements that we make in our family and in our country.
Let’s make this New Year, THE BEST between us and all people.