Saint James UCC of Hamburg, NY

Matthew 2:1:1-12; II Corinthians 5:16-19

Preached by Rev. Robert Matlack
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We really know very little about these wise men who came from the east. All that we really know about them is what we find in a few verses in the gospel of Matthew. These verses tell us that these wise men studied the stars and came to worship Jesus. We don't even know how many of them there were. Of course popular legend says three, but what is actually mentioned in our text is that they brought three gifts - gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

In that time period it was typical for astrologers and those who studied the stars to travel freely around the Mediterranean world. Pretty much wherever they went they would find a welcome in the royal courts, the market places, and just about anywhere that they might choose to go. They were seen as a source of knowledge, particular about what might be happening or what might be about to happen. Kings and other prominent people would freely consult them. We know that in Jerusalem King Herod was constantly concerned with real or imagined usurpers to his throne, and so news of these magi who came seeking a king would virtually guarantee that he would want to meet with them.

Imagine with me for a minute the difficulty of the journey these men undertook. I know that when I go on a trip, I like to know ahead of time where I'm going. I like to have the destination set, and at least a rough schedule as to when we need to be there. Then I might plan stopovers along the way or side trips to interesting places, but it is in that context of knowing where my destination is, and what the time frame is.

There's a lot of security in knowing those things. You can plan and make sure that you have enough money for the trip. You can make reservations as to where you will stay. You can let people know where to contact you in case of an emergency. As you travel you know whether or not you're on schedule, and can make adjustments accordingly. This kind of knowledge gives you a frame of reference in which to place and to plan the trip.

These kings or magi, these studiers of the stars had none of those things. They made this whole journey on the strength of their faith - faith that this star was a sign specially revealed to them. On the basis of that belief, they set out on a journey that was arduous, time consuming, and dangerous. They did not know where their destination was to be, or even if they would ever even get there. They had no set time for their journey. They could not plan ahead. They ventured into the future without any of the security that we prize to much, and they did it in an era and a part of the world where travel was often very dangerous, but they did it willingly and perhaps eagerly.

They were guided only by their faith. They didn't have compasses or global positioning units. All that they had was a star in the sky. Now it must have been difficult at times to keep on going, particularly when the star that they were following suddenly disappeared. Their one piece of security, the sign upon which they had based this whole journey, suddenly was gone, and they were literally left hanging, far from home. You can almost hear them wondering if this was some foolish quest after all, if all of their efforts had been in vain. But, they didn't give up. They went to Jerusalem, to the court of Herod, and asked for directions, probably assuming that they would know about this wondrous event. Of course Herod knew nothing, but some of his wise counselors pointed to Bethlehem as the place where the Messiah was to be born. When the wise men from the east left on their way, miraculously the star reappeared, guiding them onward. They traveled their journey to the very end, and it was there in Bethlehem that they found what they sought.

Now what does that say to us? We've started a new year, and we walk into that new year as people who travel a journey of faith. We don't always think of our lives that way, but they are. We don't know what lies ahead. None of us knows what tomorrow holds, much less the rest of this new year. We have hopes and dreams. We have plans and visions. We know what we'd like, but none of us knows the reality of what lies ahead.

When you get right down to it, the one thing that we do know, is that God has promised to be there with us, to walk with us each and every step of our journey. Wherever 2004 might lead us, God will be there with us, loving us and calling us onward to new levels of faithfulness and fulness.

The newness of the year reminds us that in Jesus Christ all things are made new. The Apostle Paul says it this way, "When anyone is joined to Christ, he is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come." We are new beings, entering a new year, a year filled with opportunities and challenges. The slate on which are written our sins of the past year has now been wiped clean, and God calls us to live differently, to live more faithfully and lovingly in 2009.

In a sense we too have been given a star to follow in this new year. No, it's not a star that we will see shining up there in the sky, but it is certainly one that shines in our hearts. What is that star? It is none other than the one whose birth we just celebrated, none other than the one who lived and died and then lives again - for us.

That is the star that we would follow, and like those travelers of old, we don't know where this star will lead us. We only know that this is the journey that God calls us to travel, and just as for those wise men who came from the east, that is enough.

There's a story about a father and his young son who were walking on the beach of the ocean the morning after a violent storm. An incredible number of starfish had washed up on the sand and were struggling to get back into the water. The boy went along, picking them up one by one, and tossing them back into the water. His father scoffed at him, saying, "there are millions of them! What difference do you think you can make? Gee Dad," the boy replied while holding up the starfish that was in his hand, "It will make all the difference in the world to this one."

Our life in Christ, our efforts to be faithful as we walk in the newness of 2009 may not change the wars that are being fought in far corners of the world. Our efforts may not change the fear of terrorism or poverty or halt the devastation of pollution in our own nation, but those efforts will make all the difference in the world to us, and will change that corner of the world in which we live. The way that each of us as an individual travels into this new year may not have earthshaking consequences for the world as a whole, but it does have earthshaking consequences for us. For our faith, or the lack thereof, literally has the power to change our lives.

In Jesus Christ God has come to us and made all things new. Let us begin this new year with a faith that is strong and determined to follow Christ, with a faith that will guide us on our journey and sustain us through all that lies ahead, just as the faith of the wise men sustained them, even when the traveling was difficult and the star that was their guide totally disappeared for a while.

Our journey into this new year may not always be easy or fun, but we travel knowing that in Jesus Christ God is with us, and that is what makes our journey possible. It is our faith and our faith alone that will sustain us in these new days that lie ahead, so let us walk forward in faith, knowing that Christ is there, walking with us, each and every step of the way.

Amen.