Sermon preached by The Rev'd Donna Downs

St. Paul’s on the Green, Norwalk, Connecticut

The Feast of the Epiphany - 8:00 a.m.

Many years ago, when my husband Allen and I were newly married we lived in Boston and would often drive to Mount Washington in New Hampshire to go hiking for the day. On Halloween one year Allen, a friend, and I left early one morning for a day hike across some of the smaller mountains to the summit of Mount Washington. It was an absolutely beautiful fall day, warm with a clear blue sky. We reached the top of Mount Washington around 3PM. We were taking pictures and admiring the beautiful scenery around us, when one of us said, the sunset this evening will be spectacular. Suddenly, we all looked at one another and realized that the sun would soon be setting. We were not equipped to spend the night on the mountain. As quickly as we could, we started down one of the ravines hoping that we’d make it down before it was pitch black and cold, and that we’d find our car. It wasn’t an easy hike down the path and all of us had fallen more than once. Allen fell in a stream and twisted his back. As the sunlight disappeared, the sky became lit with stars and a crescent moon. We stopped numerous times to try and figure out which way we were headed. Somehow we were able to follow the light of the moon through the trees. Where the light would lead us we weren’t certain but it was our only hope. After what seemed like hours, we made it down the mountain and found our car. It was only by the light of the stars and the crescent moon that we found our way. I remember moving slowly on the path and searching for the light before us and thinking, Dear God please light our path.

Today we celebrate Epiphany. Epiphany means manifestation when God in Christ entered the world as a baby. In the Gospel text this morning the wise men, which is a translation of a Greek word that means magi, were astrologers or magicians. The wise men followed the star they observed rising in the sky at night. In secret meetings with Herod, they could describe the exact time when the star appeared. They followed the same star until it stopped over the place where Jesus was. Jesus’ birth stirred a star, a search party, and a king. His birth was the light to life for a dark world, and the star over him proclaimed such a message.

God’s message of love and forgiveness, of promise and salvation is one of old. Since Adam, God has chosen to be revealed to humanity. In the history of the Bible, God has been revealed, but always only partially and oftentimes in the presence of light. On the mountain God caused Moses’ face to shine, then Moses wore a veil to cover – partially – God’s brightness. The light of the star visible only by night caused the magi to visit the place where the Messiah was born. The king of the Jews had come to the earth, as a newborn baby. God is revealed but only partially. It is not until Christ’s death that the light of the mystery of God in Christ is fully revealed. In light and power, in death and in quiet, God has been revealed to the world.

The Reverend Amy Na wrote, “In these days we celebrate God being made known in Christ. We celebrate the season with light. We celebrate with candles and twinkling lights and bright trees inside and outside our homes. There are lights decorating neighborhoods and businesses proclaiming a season of joy and hope. The light brightens the night and dispels some of the darkness in our lives. Light exposes. Light reveals. Light announces. Light demands.

In light and in dreams, God is revealed to us. When the Christmas lights are put away, God’s light remains. The sun, the moon, and all the stars stay in the sky. They are fixed and dependable; they are there to light our way. They can serve as a reminder of the constant presence of Almighty God in the midst of sickness, confusion, turmoil, doubt, and fear.”

In these days we celebrate light and we sing about stars in the sky; stars that silently look down on the manger, where Jesus lay. In Jesus’ birth, God is revealed, exposed, announced and even demanding as a baby can be. A star reminds us of all this.

When you find yourself in situations where you see the sun setting and darkness is about to surround you and you don’t know what to do, look up, look around you and you’ll find the light of Christ. The light might be dim at first but even the tiniest star can give you hope in a dark world. Know that the light is a constant. As Amy Na wrote, “It is as though God is saying to us: I am here. I am with you. I will lead the way. I have come so that you will know me. You are not alone.”

May the star light remind you of the Light of the world. May the mystery and the light of this season bring you closer to the Lord of all, the Light of life.