[Richard Church]

 

Matthew 2. 1 – 11

 

Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold

Money Money by Abba

We had evidence and no doubt. I had seen birth and death,
But had thought they were different; this Birth was
Hard and bitter agony for us, like Death, our death.
We returned to our places, these Kingdoms,
But no longer at ease here, in the old dispensation,
With an alien people clutching their gods. T.S.Eliot

 

I am gold. The travelers were weighed down on their journey of discovery, as they carried me. I can make powerful people bend in response to my universal value. I am fought for. I adorn queens and kings and pay armies. Almost certainly I preoccupy you with your salaries and pensions. People pretend that I am a rich person’s preoccupation. Yet all of you mourn the lack of me and wish to have more of me.

Question: How does money weigh on us and preoccupy us?

My owner gathered me for the journey. There is a prophecy (Psalm 72) that kings will come bringing gold. You see I am the ultimate token of allegiance. Everyone professes faithfulness, but when they open their treasure chests and give me away, they prove it. You need my value for political power. I have always believed that I guarantee stability, wealth and peace in rulers.

Question: What part does economic power have in maintaining peace and prosperity?

Everything was going well as we approached Jerusalem. Obviously, we were to be an imperial tribute gift to Caesar given via his puppet king Herod. It was the way of the world, to show Rome deference. An insurance against incursion into the East by Roman legions. However, something was not right. They had packed myrrh for burial and frankincense for prayer. How would King Herod be blessed by that? Then after a short sojourn in the great city of Jerusalem we started off again. The camel train headed south and there we were swaying and knocking against the animal’s flanks to arrive at the poky little village of Bethlehem. Not even a decent hotel in town. No one of quality living there. Why had I been brought here?

From within my chest, I could hear a fuss going on. We had stopped and my masters were clearly excited. I have never known them this animated and I longed to see what was going on for myself. At last the chest was opened. My friends I was shocked to see the hovel I had been brought to. A small low ceilinged place, an overwhelming smell of cattle and poverty. In the midst if it, framed by it, was a young peasant family. Then I noticed my masters prostrated on the ground. This then was where our journey had brought us to a baby. How can I stay here I thought, I belong amongst wealth, power and privilege, to people clothes in satins and silks – not here. Yet here I was being handed over to the family. Not only was I being given but incense and burial spice as well. A stranger assortment of gifts for a young prince.

Question: We have come to the end of our journey in front of the crib. Gold felt the incongruity of being valuable in a poor place. Gold felt his presence would better fit a palace. Yet people give what they have to give Jesus.

Question: Have you felt that unease in the old dispensation? As you think about the Christmases you have been able to celebrate what sense do you make of clutching alien gods? Take a moment or two to talk with others about your Epiphany journey and discoveries…

 

 

 

The joy of discovery
that moment
when hope and expectation
were gloriously met
by the illumination of one bright star.
We cannot imagine
what words were spoken by visitors
or if first impressions
left them somewhat confused.
Messiah, Saviour, a King
born in the barest of palaces.
Yet they saw and fell down
on their knees in adoration.
Lord, they saw you and knew
whom they had met.
As we meet around crib
candle or advent wreath
draw us into that stable
in our imagination.
In the quiet moments of prayer
this Epiphany, that brief oasis
from the bustle of the world
bring alive to us
the smell of the hay
the sound of the animals
the cry of a baby.
Draw us close to our Saviour
Messiah and King as we bring
not Gold, Myrrh or Frankincense
but the gift of our lives
the only offering we can bring.

 

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