[Mcgregorpage] McGregorPage #590, Epiphany 1, 1/6/08

[rmcgregoralbq at aol.com]

Baptism of the Lord, January 6, 2008

Psalm 8
Isaiah 60:1-6
Ephesians 3:1-12
Matthew 2:1-12

Isaiah describes a positive balance of trade for Jerusalem, 100% positive in fact, wealth flowing in from the surrounding nations and nothing flow out. Why is all this value flowing into Jerusalem? Is it because of the light that descended on the city – light meaning energy, light meaning clarity of vision? Would the Psalmist rephrase the moment of awe with “What is Jerusalem that you are mindful of it?” Or perhaps “Jerusalem” for Isaiah is the true humanity.

The blessings Isaiah describes and the Psalmist praises could be attributed to the modern United States. Stand on Mount Franklin at night overlooking El Paso, Texas and Juarez, Mexico. See where the bright blue-white lights of the United States turn in to the dim umber lights of Mexico. That’s the river. The river is the boundary. Light means abundant energy. Light means all science and technology. We call it “The Enlightenment”. Look at all the material wealth of the world flowing into this country. We call it a trade deficit and worry about it. It will weaken the dollar. But, look at all our stuff! Are we Jerusalem, then, the true humanity?

King Herod worried about a trade deficit when he contemplated the birth of a heavenly king. In the world of the blind, the one-eyed man is king, but when a two-eyed king is born there is a new perspective, new depth perception. When this child is the first born of the sons of light, the old pale light loses its value. Herod and his court will erect a trade barrier. Light and value are crossing his borders but not any border he can find. Homeland Security won’t help him. It is the border between this world and the next, between Herod’s kingdom and the kingdom of heaven. God is crossing the boundary unbidden and uncompensated. God is bringing riches beyond a thousand camels or ten thousand tourists coming to visit the Holy Land. He is bringing the riches Paul calls the Gospel, riches embodied in the church – specifically embodied in the relationship between God and the church.

So, the prophet’s joy is the king’s threat. What’s it to you, this light, this power, this presence? Does it mean that you are displaced or have a new place just a little lower than the angels?


May these thoughts strengthen you. 
 
An Open Letter to Fellow Pastors 
>From Roland McGregor, United Methodist Pastor 
(an e-mail service) 
 
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