All Inclusive God (Epiphany)

AN ALL INCLUSIVE GOD

On the Feast of the Epiphany, the last day of our Christmas celebrations, we recall the visit of the Magi to the Christ child at Bethlehem. It is a story found only in St Matthew's Gospel.

Whilst it is a very well known story, once we begin to look at its details, we find there are many questions that are left unanswered.

For instance, how many were there? We do not know. Tradition suggests three because three gifts were offered, consisting of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

What were their names? We do not know. Tradition has given them the names of Caspar, Melchior and Balthazzar.

What were they like? We do not know. Tradition suggests that Caspar was young and beardless with a ruddy complexion; Melchior was an old man with grey hair and a beard; and Balthazzar was swarthy in appearance with a newly grown beard.

Who were these men? We do not know. The Greek word "magi" was originally used to describe a Medianite tribe of priests. Later, the word was used to describe the Zoroastrian priestly caste. The word is also used to describe astrologers and magicians.

From where did they come? We do not know. Some biblical commentators suggest Babylon, others Arabia, others Mesopotamia or the regions beyond.

Finally, when did they arrive? We do not know.

The fact that Herod killed all the young children of Bethlehem under two years old in order to destroy any possible rival to the throne, suggests that they could have arrived up to two years after the birth of Christ.

However, we also know that Jesus was presented in the Temple in Jerusalem some 40 days after his birth, according to Jewish custom, and there is no reason why the Holy Family should have returned again to Bethlehem.

In short, it is all very confusing and difficult to piece together.

Whilst you and I continue to ask such practical questions as to who, why, where and when, we will only succeed in confusing ourselves and miss the whole point of Matthew's story.

I would suggest that, with the language of narrative, poetry and symbolism, Matthew is seeking to tell us something about the nature and character of God, as revealed through Jesus Christ. The focus of the story is not really the magi, nor is it astrology, nor is it political history and nor is it about the gifts offered. First and foremost the story is about God.

Once again, it is important to recall that the unknown author of Matthew's Gospel wrote, between the end of the first century and the beginning of the second century, for the benefit of the early Jewish Christians.

Now the Jews over the years had narrowed down their idea of God to such an extent that, he had become the private property of the Jews alone.

Although in the first eleven chapters of the Book of Genesis, God is seen to be the God of all nations, and although the prophets, especially Amos and Isaiah, had endeavoured to maintain this all inclusive image of God before the people, the Jews had narrowed down their image of God over the centuries until he had become a tribal God.

The Jews had come to believe, and still believe today, that they alone are the "chosen people" of God. This belief had sustained them, and continues to sustain them today, during tumultuous times and had kept the flame of faith burning brightly in the dark nights of their country's history.

Unfortunately, they had interpreted this "chosenness" in terms of privilege, rather than of purpose. They had tended to make God into the God of the Jews only, not the God of everyone, including both Jew and Gentile alike.

So the author of St Matthew's Gospel, writing to Christians brought up initially within the Jewish tradition, seeks to broaden his readers' image of God by including this story of representatives of the non-Jewish world, also coming to pay homage to the Christ Child at Bethlehem.

This is acknowledged by the Book of Common Prayer which names this day as "The Epiphany or the Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles".

This danger of making God less than God is a constant danger within the life of the Christian Church.

God is not the tribal God of Anglicans only, he is also the God of the Orthodox, the Roman Catholics, and of the non-conformist churches.

Neither is he the tribal God of Christianity only. I would suggest that he is also the God of Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism and Shintoism, even though their followers may not acknowledge Him. And although we often find it hard to acknowledge the fact, he is also the God of Osama Bin Laden, Myra Hindley and of the child murderers of James Bulger. Yes, it is hard to conceive of such people as also being made in the image of God, when they have done so much to deface that image in their lives, but He is.

All people, of all nations and of all religions are his "chosen people" for all are made in the "image of God".

So as we prepare to take down our Christmas decorations and put them away for another year, let us recall that not only does Matthew lay claim to this image of God at the beginning of his gospel, by including the story of the visit of the magi,but he also lays claim to this inclusive image of God at the end of his gospel, by recording our Lord's final words to his disciples: "Go therefore and make disciples of ALL nations".

At the sixth Assembly of the World Council of Churches held in Vancouver some years ago, there was a children's camp. One of the prayers which they wrote, expresses not only the thoughts of that international camp, but also of the Feast of the Epiphany.

"Black and white, red and yellow

God loves everyone;

Black and white, red and yellow,

God loves us all.

God has no favourite people,

all are alike to him:

God is love, God gives peace

God loves us all. Amen."