My lesson
this Sunday will be the final one in the series where we have been exploring
the metaphysics of the Christmas story found in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.
This week we will observe Epiphany, which in the Western Christian church is
principally, but not solely, the celebration of the arrival of the wise men
from the East who came to pay homage and bring gifts to the baby Jesus. It is
traditionally celebrated on January 6; however, in some countries it is now
observed on the Sunday following January 1.
While it is included
only in the Gospel of Matthew, the story of the wise men’s arrival in Bethlehem
is an essential component of the traditional Christian narrative. It is widely agreed
among Bible scholars that the author of Matthew was writing to a church, an ecclesia comprised of Jewish Christians as
well as Gentiles, or non-Jews. It was, therefore, imperative that he include in
his narrative evidence that Jesus was the Messiah, not only for the Jews, but
for all people. This intention was partly achieved by the author’s inclusion of
the wise men, non-Jews themselves, acknowledging Jesus as the Son of God. The
wise men as described in story would most likely have been of the priestly
caste of Zoroastrianism and schooled in science. These men were revered in
their culture and often considered by the populace to be equivalent of kings.
Given their reputed status, their visit to Jesus in Matthew’s gospel also helps
to confirm to the author’s Jewish audience that Jesus is the fulfillment of the
Messianic prophecy that proclaims that kings will worship him. (Isaiah 49:7
& 60:3) The significance of Jesus’
birth is also emphasized by the report that the wise men brought expensive and
precious gifts to honor him.
When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. - Matthew 2:10-11 (NRSV)
The story of
the wise men and their adoration of the baby Jesus is integral to the
traditional Christian assertion that Jesus is the one and only Son of God, the
savior of all the world. As with other aspects of the Christmas story, this
event also contains noteworthy metaphysical meaning. Unity co-founder, Charles
Fillmore, taught that metaphorically all characters in the Bible represent
aspects of each of us and when explored metaphysically reveal what happens
within our own consciousness at different states of our evolutionary process. In the Metaphysical Bible Dictionary, Mr.
Fillmore says that the wise men represent the wisdom of the soul that is hidden
until the first recognition of the Christ within*. When one first
becomes aware of the Christ which is represented by the birth of Jesus in the
Christmas story, the latent wisdom (wise men) is activated. As Mr. Fillmore said, this wisdom brings
forth the gifts which are the “inner resources of Spirit that are open to the
Christ mind”.
Frankincense,
gold and myrrh, often referred to as the gifts of the magi, represent the
richness, beauty and eternity of the Spirit of Christ that is the essence of
each of us. As we receive these gifts in our conscious awareness we are
empowered to live more fully and more freely knowing that we need not seek
outside ourselves for the gifts, but only need look within to claim that which
is already there.
I encourage
each of us to know that as we choose to celebrate the birth of the Christ
within us, the wisdom which may have been previously hidden from our awareness
is awakened. It brings to us the gifts of our own perfect, beautiful and
eternal expression of the Christ. As we claim our Truth, we are empowered to
move forward in our realization and manifestation of Christ in the world.
I invite you
to join us on Sunday morning at 10:00 as we open to receive the gifts of the
magi for ourselves.
Beautiful and awesome.
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