The Dawning of the Age…of Aries?

Those following this weekend’s lectionary have several choices to follow:  it could be the Second Week after Christmas, or it could be The Baptism of the Lord.  Or it could be the Epiphany–which I’ve chosen, because this should be observed as cloture (?) to Christmas.  Shrouded in delicious legends, the showing of Christ to the Gentiles/ whole world has been prodded and tweaked by ages and cultures.  Dr. Becky Harrison loaned me an article by Michael Molnar which proposes that the Star of Bethlehem was the planet Jupiter (King of the Solar System?) arising and proceeding into the House of Aries, Aries being the zodiacal sign which governed the Near East and especially Israel… (THE ANCIENT WORLD, Vol.29, #2; 1998)  Interesting enough; yet I tend in my old age to prefer the mystery over the explainable.

Third Isaiah, in the tradition of magi, tells readers to “arise, shine; for your light has come,  and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you” (60:1).  Despite the thick darkness which we all know too well, a welcome shower of hope soaks into our parched land.  The Presence of the Holy comes both as a slow dawning or a flash of power.  Each of us describes our own Epiphany differently.  Yet we do see and become radiant, our hearts do thrill and rejoice:  lift up your eyes and look at the gift-givers who proclaim the praise of the Lord!
The Pauline author of Ephesians speaks of revealing “the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things” (3:10).  An interconnection within all readings affirms that the sons & daughters of Israel will bring costly gifts; the Gentile magi of the Gospel bring costly gifts; and the Ephesians are now reminded that Christ–the costliest gift of all–has been brought by God to Israel  and Gentile alike!  The epiphany here is that both have been included since the beginning; the Church (the Body of Christ) is instructed to pass along God’s wisdom to all rulers and authorities.

Most of us have heard the story of the Three Kings since we were tiny.  Art, written literature, music have all robed these visitors with personality; we’ve named them Melchior, Caspar & Balthazar (sounds like a law firm) and assigned them camels, licorice and magic powers.  They studied not only the stars but also sacred traditions and expectations: they were ready and willing to recognize a Sign of Divinity, a holy moment.  “The star is pure grace; their travel is sheer faith; their worship is the dawn of a new age whose fullness will see all peoples come to the mountain of God.”  (Thomas R. Steagald, in FEASTING on the WORD, B 1:211)

Steagald sums up the readings:  “The primacy of Christ in God’s gracious initiative and the consequent unity of all God’s children–and all people, now, beneficiaries of Christ’s unsearchable riches–are the heart of this day’s proclamation….Epiphany unveils, proclaims, celebrates God’s gift to all people.” (ibid.,p.207)

God Bless Us, Every One                 Horace Brown King

My musings on scripture readings for the upcoming weekend can be found every Tuesday at this spot on Facebook; or at horacebrownking.com