Today’s the day we remember when a crazed ruler was willing to do anything to retain power. He knew his days in power were coming to an end, because a new ruler had been selected. His fear was contagious and spread to his followers. He co-opted the religious folks, so that he could bend Scriptural passages to his will. His willingness to do anything to retain his power led to loss of life. In spite of his best efforts, however, he was unable to block the new kid in town.
Today is, as I’ve described above, Epiphany. It is the traditional day that marks the coming of the three sages (wise men, kings, magi) to find the Christ child. Herod’s shadow hangs heavily over this story. When he hears that a new king has been born, Herod summons the faith leaders of the day to get more information. They give him a Bible verse or two, and, thus armed, Herod works to thwart this new king before he has begun. The sages are swept inadvertently into this plan, but God intervenes to send them home by another way, a way that will keep them far away from Herod. And yet. When Herod realizes his original plot isn’t going to work, he slaughters every male child under the age of two, just to make sure that there will be no boy king to survive and take away his power.
There’s another terribly painful event that is being commemorated today, on its one-year anniversary. That event also features a fearful ruler who sought to use everything within his power, including religious leaders, to retain his power. (And, to be clear, while I see parallels between the two rulers, I am NOT equating our current president with Jesus. There is no human, no church, no political party, nor anything of earthly nature that deserves that designation, although we seem to forget that fact with great regularity.)
God’s intervention in humanity through the coming of Christ was set against a backdrop of great political turmoil and fear. I take great comfort in that reality today. It turns out that God does some of the very greatest work during the toughest times. God doesn’t wait for human perfection to bring light, but God brings light exactly when things are so bleak that we can barely see the end of our nose.
Isaiah dared to declare God’s light and glory at a time of immense political upheaval and threat.
Arise, shine; for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen
upon you.
For darkness shall cover the
earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will appear over you. Isaiah
60:1-2
These words from Isaiah had to have been echoing in John’s ears as he wrote about the meaning of the coming of Christ.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. John 1:5.
Today, while I step away from the nonstop doom-cycling of news stories about the other commemoration of January 6, I choose to celebrate Epiphany. I’ve lit some candles as the dawn breaks this morning, and I’ll keep them burning. I’ll spend some time being grateful for the places where light has come in my life this last year, and I’ll ask God’s guidance and light in days to come. And, of course, I’ll make that request not only on behalf of myself and those whom I love, but for my nation and for our world.
Today, I choose to celebrate Epiphany.
