“The Road Isn’t Always Straight”
Isaiah 43:16-21; Matthew 2:1-12
Last year I went to a dermatologist, I was one of those kids in the sixties and seventies who were always outside and rarely sun-screened. I have a few spots on my face, which my primary physician Dr. Sager suggested I get looked at by a specialist. So, my initial visit was to have the dermatologist look at my skin and see what treatment might be needed. As I got ready to drive for my first appointment, I got out my cell phone and typed in the address on my Google Maps app. The map app then guided me to my destination.
After my initial visit, I was not scheduled to have another appointment until 6 months down the road. By that time, I had forgotten the location of the office, and once again plugged in the address in Google Maps. My second trip to the dermatologist was not like the last trip. For some reason, this time Google Maps took me on some twisted roads with many turns through a neighborhood. I was a bit worried, as the route was not as direct as last time. Fortunately, I ended up at my destination, but Google Maps chose to be creative and go on a new route with twists and turns, which was unsettling. I wish I had gone on that first more direct journey.
Too often, we may think that life’s journeys are meant to be easy and direct. Our lives often unfold with many unexpected twists and turns. Initially, the Magi went on a direct journey following a star in the sky. Yet their journey on to Messiah and then back home ended up being different. They too went on a different route than before.
Let us take a closer look at the journey the Magi took to worship the Messiah.
First, who were they? We often see images of three kings symbolizing Magi, but the scripture never mentions them being kings, or that there were even three of them. The number of Magi is based on the gifts given to the Messiah- gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Most scholars believe them to have been Gentile astrologers who came from Persia, what is now modern-day Iran. The ancient history of Magi in Iran speaks of their role as guardians of the old religion, Zoroastrianism, which follows the teachings of Zoroaster and may date back as far as the 11th century B.C.
In a keynote talk, Rev. Dr. Barbara Brown Taylor once said, “The Magi led me to wonder how many other religious strangers play important roles in scripture, not as potential converts [. . . ] but as agents of the God who transcends religion and never met a stranger. Whether they come in scripture from Egypt or Persia, Samaria, Greece, Rome, Canaan, they enter stage left. They deliver their blessings and they exit stage right, leaving their mark on a tradition that is not their own. They're as easy to miss as the nighttime stories, but what treasure they leave behind, proof that we can bless each other across the boundaries of our tribes.” Consider all the people in your life who have offered you blessings, words for the beginning at important junctures along the way. Have you ever received a blessing from someone from a different cultural or religious background than your own? What treasure did they leave behind?
These Magi looked at the stars to tell them of things that were happening or would be happening in earthly life. Because of their skill in deciphering the meanings or messages of the stars, they were widely considered as wise men. Their journey to see who the stars prophesied about took 3-4 months and may have been as much as 800-1,000 miles.
It is interesting to note that these outsiders must have somehow heard of the Jewish people and their ongoing longing for a Messiah. They interpreted a bright star in the sky to herald his birth and took this long journey to see for themselves who had been born.
They made a brief stop to ask for specific directions in the holy city of Jerusalem, learning where to search for Jesus from Herod, a puppet king placed upon the throne to serve the interests of Rome. It was obvious to Magi that Herod’s interest in worshiping the Messiah was not sincere. So rather than traveling back to Bethlehem after they honored Jesus, scripture tells us they were warned in a dream to return home another way. Guided by dreams and stars, their journey was filled with unforeseen detours. Their road back home was not straight.
There is a core truth for us in the story of the visit of the Magi: Life often unfolds with unexpected turns. We may be called to go on a long, unexpected journey, full of detours, barriers, and surprises along the way. Life is complicated. The road to where we think we are going is not always straight. Today’s passage from Matthew teaches us that if we follow God’s directing, if we listen to that still small voice, God will guide us through the twists and turns. The Magi teach us that we can find the way ahead by following God’s light wherever it shines. God can make a way in the wilderness for us as well.
I am sure many of you have similar tales to tell about life’s journeys not being straight and direct. This has happened to me throughout most of my life. Becoming a grandparent is one such example. After Paula and I got married way back in 1987, I believed that we would have kids someday, who would eventually get married and have kids of their own- a nice linear journey to grandparent hood. What happened instead? Our first child died, and after almost six years we adopted our son, Sam, and then our daughter Abigail about six years later. Abby and her partner had our grandson, Parker and are now married, living in Florida. It was not the journey I expected and was full of twists and turns which continue to this day, but it led to me holding our first grandchild. There was a lot of praying involved and wondering how it all might turn out. If we follow God’s directing, if we listen to that still small voice, God will guide us through.
Perhaps if we can live with the expectation that life’s journeys will often be anything but straight and direct, we might have some comfort. This is especially true if we can remember that, through every twist and turn, through each dark valley and tall hill, God is with us, making a way.
The passage from Isaiah testifies to this truth with a powerful promise: God makes a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. God can create paths where none seem to exist. God invites us forward in faith to step into new possibilities.
We as a church have been on a journey for 149 years and are approaching our 150th anniversary next August. The journey began long ago and was full of challenges, joys, sorrows, and blessings. As we try to move forward in new ways, trying like the magi to discern our way forward, God can actively make a way in the wilderness, guide us through uncharted territories and inspire us with the promise of making all things new.
As we step out in faith, God can bring us closer to where this church is meant to go. This perspective can empower us to face the uncertainties that lie ahead with courage, knowing that God is with us and can guide us through the detours.
In just a bit, you will have the chance to choose a star word that can help you through the detours on your own personal journey in 2025. I have eight stars I have received over the last eight Epiphanies hanging on my bookshelf in my office. Each of them has a different word which has guided me each year. The words include discipline, truth, faith, vitality, maturity, realistic, daring and peace. I look forward to my new star word and its guidance in the new year.
In this new year, may you find comfort knowing that, like Magi, a star can guide you through this year. Have comfort in the knowledge that you never truly go alone-the God who knows your name and loves you unconditionally goes alongside you and before you. Let this assurance fill you with peace and courage, open to the new and unexpected paths that God may reveal in the coming year. Alleluia. Amen.
