The Journey

Feast of the Epiphany January 5, 2011
The Journey The Reverend Dr. Howard J. Hess

I. Introduction: The journey of the Three Kings is a familiar part of the Christmas story. It is told only in Matthew, which was originally written to a largely Jewish Christian audience. It is thought that the story makes it very clear that Jesus was not only a Jewish Messiah, but had come to save the entire world. We are not told who they were, where they came from, or what became of them after they saw and worshipped Jesus. Their cameo appearance emphasizes the journey they took, their gifts, Herod’s attempt to obstruct them, and their singular commitment to find and worship Jesus. Their journey was spiritual as well as physical.

II. The journey is one of the motifs, or repeated themes, used in Scripture to describe how human beings encounter and respond to God. Abraham took a long faith-based journey, as did Jacob, Moses, and later Paul and his missionary companions. Jesus’ ministry occurred while he journeyed from one town to another, and Christians throughout the ages have referred to their spiritual lives as journeys.

When I think of more contemporary faith journeys I am reminded of Deitrich Bonhoeffer, my favorite 20th century theologian. Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran minister who was studying at Union Theological Seminary in New York City as the Nazis were consolidating their power in Germany. I took at a course at Union on the life and works of Bonhoeffer in the very room where he paced all night, trying to decide whether to return home to help the church fight the Nazis or stay in the safety of New York City. His friends and advisors urged him not to return to Germany. But he did return, and felt called to support a failed plot to assassinate Hitler; he was eventually caught and executed. He went, he wrote, because he did not believe that someone could really be a part of the solution to a problem without making every effort to solve it. Bonhoeffer’s journey, like that of the Three Kings, was spiritual as well as physical.

IV. Many of us have or are undertaking significant spiritual journeys in our Christian lives. By meditating upon the experiences of those who have journeyed before us, we can be enlightened and encouraged. There are several principles that we see repeatedly in Christian journey stories; these all have to do with our willingness to act. First, the Christian pilgrim must be willing to look for signs and directions about when to begin a particular journey; when to change course; and how to avoid danger. For the Three Kings, the morning star and their own dreams provided signs and directions. For me, signs often occur in the form of a “co-incidence.” I may have told you about when I went to see Bishop vonRosenburg about an inquiry from a parish in South Carolina. Toward the end of our time together, our conversation shifted to Ascension. I said, “Perhaps someday I could be of use there.” That was the beginning of a spiritual and physical journey that has resulted in my being here tonight. Listen, watch, and follow the signs.

Secondly, in our spiritual journeys we must be willing to enter into unknown territories. I have repeatedly seen that our willingness to act on God’s call, in and of itself, addresses much of the fear we have of the unknown. A wonderful example of this has been provided to us by Caroline Vogel. While ministering with us here at Ascension, Caroline shared in her sermons many of the obstacles in her journey to ordained ministry. Following God’s call into unknown space has required faithfulness and a willingness to continue to act on God’s call despite those obstacles. Caroline will be ordained to the transitional deaconate on January 15th. We must be willing to enter into the unknown, even when we can perceive clear risk.

And lastly, we must maintain our focus upon seeing and following Jesus. This is perhaps the most significant of these three principles. Seeking Jesus Christ leads us to Epiphanies in which we meet God. When we are willing to seek and follow Jesus, God never fails to be present in our spiritual journeys.

V. Conclusion: Our spiritual journeys are complex and inevitably intertwined with the journeys of others. One rarely, if ever, hears someone reflect upon his or her spiritual journey without acknowledging the important role of others as guides, teachers, and companions on the way. The Three Kings traveled together. Each shared the signs he saw and experienced; we can imagine they provided each other encouragement, support, and companionship. Bonhoeffer was a part of the Lutheran Confessing Church after he returned to Germany. Not only was God with him on his journey, he also had the companionship of other Christians. And we have one another here at the Church of the Ascension. Thanks be to God for the guidance he gives us and the encouragement and companionship we can give to one another as we seek to see and follow Jesus. Amen.

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