Epiphany The Magi
TS Eliot:Journey of the Magi
Describes a journey… the journey of the Magi
How in Eliot's imagination he sees
Certain difficulties en route, poor weather conditions, the discomfort, the loneliness and dreariness, the grumblings, the longing for former times, happier times….ALSO…
Unreliable companions, hostile cities and unfriendly places, incredibly hard times…and a sense in which what they were attempting was utter folly, a waste of time.
'A hard time we had of it' they exclaim!
Then he says this, This Birth was hard and bitter agony for us, like Death, our death.
Yet despite all this we know that the wise men were seekers after truth. They must have been diligent and watchful in their studies of the night sky. They were certainly determined to achieve their goal, for they journeyed bravely on over many miles of rough terrain.
But we've also got to admire them for their courage to do an about turn when they took a wrong route, and for the way in which they listened when God guided them away from danger through a dream. They acted upon that command and obediently travelled a different route home.
At this time of the year many people have 'a hard time of it'
It's hard to get going into routine again…BACK ON TRACK
I don't know about you, but there are times when I feel like curling up on the settee in front of a warm fire, and never getting going again.
Or the alarm clock goes off, and you can hear the drizzle against the window, and your nose begins to freeze as it peeps out from the bedclothes, and you'd much rather just close your eyes and go back to sleep.
And then again I don't know about you, but I find there are many hypnotic and tempting pleasures around us that numb the brain and satisfy us momentarily especially so at this time of the year.
You know the sort of things:- a drop over much of liquid refreshment for some, a favourite 'must see at all costs' soap or film on TV for others, regardless of whether or not it is appropriate..the list goes on.
Not only that but we've had our minds focussed for so long on the glitz and splendour of the Christmas Sparkle and New Year celebrations, with all their promise of satisfaction, merriment and fulfillment, and now we find that a COLD VACUUM has set in.
The excitement has faded and gloom and winter chills flood into the emptiness, into the darkening void.
This seems to be the season for overdoses and suicides, and great tensions and splits in family life.
*At this time of the year, for all kinds of reasons, tempers are frayed, we are tempted to moan and criticise and think only of ourselves.
Life becomes something like TS Eliot's poem, and we too find grumblings, dissatisfaction and dreams of former times.
So what is the solution for us as Christians, as the same kind of seekers after truth, as people who have a goal before that they know they must pursue?
IN A SENSE AS CHRISTIANS WE ALL SHARE THE GOAL OF IMITATING CHRIST, BUT EACH OF US ARE ALSO ARE CALLED TO DIFFERENT GOALS AND TO ABUNDANT JOY IN THE LORD'S SERVICE.
Are we experiencing exhilaration in what we've been called to do for God, as though we were actually in the stable gazing on the Christ-child?
or are we off track, spiritually lost, confused, bored, in a rut as if we were lost in Herod's palace?
It needs that same courage and determination to listen to God's plans, to get back on track, and catch the vision once more….to redefine what each of our goals are.
We also need to work together in pursuit of our star, as the wise men did.
We all need fresh beginnings just like a new birth.
A fresh start at putting our lives in order, being renewed spiritually…re-discovering our first sight and love of God.
That is if we are to show others the way.
Today, like the wise men, we come offering ourselves anew…and our gifts,
And along with them our true obedience, our lowliness and our sincere worship.
Our gold, our frankincense, our myrrh.
Our hearts, our souls, our minds.