Feast of the Epiphany

The Cathedral Church of the Nativity

Feast of the Epiphany

Homily

The Very Rev. Anthony R. Pompa

Sunday January 7, 2018

“When they had heard the king, they set out, and there ahead of them, went the star they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was.”

There you know our story goes, these “wise men” who traveled from the East, following a star which they had discerned would lead them to something, someone, worthy of a King’s homage. These wise men, would navigate their way past the single most ominous threat to the promise of this new Kingdom reign as they worked their way around Herod, the puppet King, who had no interest in any potential threat to his power.  There these men, having been guided by a star, would indeed pay homage, and bring offerings, Gold Frankincense, and Myrrh.

Perhaps the greatest gift these three “wise guys” bring in our story is that which Scripture uses to define them. Wisdom.  They had the sense, not all that common, for who would just follow a star for miles and miles, but the sense to be guided by a star, sent their way by God.

Today, as we observe this Feast of Epiphany, I wonder, what stars has God sent you in your life?  Who have been the stars or pointed to a star that has guided your path?  Those people or circumstances that you may have had the sense, common or uncommon to have found help in navigating you away from those “Herod” like things that perhaps sought  to disrupt, destroy or overcome. Those who helped point your attention to something more than the temptations to go down a road where maybe you struggled with alcohol or drugs, or an unhealthy relationship, or idolizing money or other things. I wonder today if we could just pause for a moment and think of those who Grace working through, pointed us to a Star that re-kindled our dreams, or showed us the way home, or Loved us when we were utterly unlovable, or just listened to us when no one else would, Or even those who hit us in the noggin with a two by four and told us to “wise up” and get our act together.


When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.    “Wise Guys”.