Second Epiphany, 2005:

A well-known astronomer just happened to find himself seated next to an Episcopal bishop on a plane.  They struck up a conversation.  After finding out what each one of them did, the astronomer said, “I never had much interest in theology or church.  My views on religion can be summed up in “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

The quick-thinking bishop said, “Well, I’ve had little time for astronomy.  My views on astronomy can be summed up in “Twinkle, twinkle little star.”

The religious views on some of the followers of John the Baptist were about to change.  Good theology has a way of doing that.  Epiphany is a season in the church year that points toward good theology.  It begins today with John the Baptist pointing toward Jesus and calls him the Lamb of God.  The Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, points toward the Messiah.  Andrew points this out to his brother Peter.  Lots of pointing goes on and religious views change.  Epiphany directs our view toward Jesus the Christ and we, like Andrew, are to direct others to his presence.

We have entered a new year.  If we wish for a guarantee that this new year to be better than the one just past, we will need to go beyond resolutions that have to do with losing weight and curbing bad habits, to a recommitment to pointing people to Jesus the Christ.  If we wish to change anything, ourselves or others, that’s the best way to do it.

It might be helpful to have a plan.  Our plan needs to be simple enough to be understood.  The Gospel for today contains the outline of such a simple plan.  It says that to change anything; ourselves, others, or the course of history, we need to start small.  We need to begin where John the Baptist made his beginning.  John started with himself.  He prepared himself for what he came to understand as God’s will for his life.  People like John the Baptist are prepared to make great changes in the world.  It is central to John’s message that people understand the profound truth in the saying, “As we are, so is our world.”  That is a vital truth, for it is only in changing ourselves that the world can be changed.  It is so simple that it is possible.

That doesn’t mean it is easy.  John the Baptist sometimes seemed dissatisfied with the way God was doing things.  As a matter of fact, I believe God rather enjoys a good argument with us as long as we remain open to God’s leading and purpose.  God has had a hand in our lives, yours and mine, from the very beginning.  God has marked us in baptism and we have become God’s child in our rebirth through faith.

In the words of scripture, in the actions of the sacraments, and in the witness of those about us God is empowering us to serve daily.  This very day God is telling us how much we are loved.  And even if we think our lives are quite insignificant, we can rest assured that our lives are crucial to the plan of God for the welfare of the world.

God’s purpose for our existence is the same as it was for the people of Israel.  God always chooses people for an end greater than themselves.  Thus John the Baptist was chosen for a purpose greater than self-glorification.  Jesus said, “I need to be baptized by you.  I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.”  John used a very simple thing to reveal the Christ to the people of Israel.  He pointed and said, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!”  John used his life to point others to the Christ.  That works so much better than fingers.

John pointed out the Christ to his own disciples.  He took those closest to him and introduced them to the Passover Lamb.  John was a hellfire and damnation prophet who described Jesus in terms of God’s judgment.  John wanted people to be reminded of the Passover Lamb who saved the first-born of Israel when God was working out the freedom of the people in Egypt.

John’s followers understood enough of what that title meant to leave him and follow another.  They trusted him that much.  They knew that John loved them enough not to lead them astray.  They would come to learn that Jesus would love them even more.  John made a sacrifice and took a great risk in sending his friends in pursuit of Jesus.  But, he loved his friends and he understood his mission, so the risk was necessary.

Something marvelous, yet so simple, happened then.  When Andrew was introduced to Jesus he listened, learned, and went looking for his brother, Peter to tell him about this new friendship.  When Philip was introduced to Jesus he listened, learned, and went looking for his brother Nathaniel to tell him about this new friendship.  Andrew would find a lad with a small lunch and bring a feeding problem to Jesus.  Philip would direct some inquiring Greek to the growing fellowship.  Each of these, in turn, introduced others to Jesus and many became believers through that personal encounter with the Risen Christ.

It is a simple method.  It doesn’t cost thousands of dollars that some want to spend on TV time.  But it is still the best method I have ever seen or read about.  And the great thing about it is that this is the plan Jesus designed.  That means you and I can be involved in it, too.

Epiphany, revealing the Christ to people and people to Christ, is for you and me.  You are called, as a consequence of your baptism, to become a “pointer.”  That means we inherit the task of the Wise Men and manifest the Light of the world to others.

When Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit came upon him and it remained with him.  It is the power and presence of that same Holy Spirit that Jesus pours out upon all of us this day, asking that we extend the meaning of Epiphany.

It has been a long time since the confidence of the American people in materialism and in the basic safety of life has been as low as it is right now.  We have had our confidence in technology shaken, the ravages of nature have taken thousands of lives, trusted leaders in business, government at every level, and those elected to political positions have betrayed our trust, foreign policy has failed, and wars have not won the peace.

If we will listen, it is in this backdrop of our present circumstances that God’s grace can be most effectively proclaimed.  It nothing else, these circumstances can pull us together and the opportunities to show by our lives who God is and what God means to us are increased.

How exciting life can be if we plan during this year to find just one other person and say, in our own way, “Look, here is the Lamb of God, the Christ.”  That’s the true Epiphany vision that goes beyond resolutions that serve only self.  Jesus the Christ has served us all.  There is very little you and I need for this New Year besides each other and the Risen Christ.  And if you and I are firmly committed to Christ and to each other we can go to the one who needs us, the one to whom God is pointing us in order to make an appeal to another soul.

Natural barriers must be breached and chasms of human constructions must be bridged to do the work of God.  God will change the world, one person at a time.  We really are here for a purpose.  There is someone who is near you to whom you can say, “Look, here is the Lamb of God.”  When they come to experience the truth of that statement they will find another and tell them.

Then the world will be little different, a little better than it is now.  We will have taken Epiphany seriously.  The magnificence of the Guiding Light will not be reduced to “Twinkle, Twinkle little star,” but will issue forth with the “Hallelujah Chorus!”  Amen.