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As part one of our month-long focus, today we want to focus on prayer. But we are also called, by church history and tradition, to remember something else today – to observe what is called "Epiphany Sunday." "Epiphany" means "manifestation" or "revealing" – the revealing of God to the world in the person of Jesus Christ. The traditions surrounding "Epiphany" – like the 3 "wise men" and the star of Bethlehem -- are based on these words from the 2nd chapter of the Gospel of Matthew: 2:1 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, magi (sometimes called "wise men") from the East came to Jerusalem, 2:2 asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." 2:3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 2:4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 2:5 They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 2:6 'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'" 2:7 Then Herod secretly called for the magi and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 2:8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." 2:9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 2:10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 2:11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid the child homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 2:12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
So...on this day...where do we find a relationship between the story of the Magi following the star in search of Christ and our call, as Christians and as stewards of God's gifts, to make prayer a central part of our lives? The connection lies in the idea of seeking the light.
The Gospel of John talks a great deal about Jesus Christ as "the light." John wrote, "The true light that gives light to every person was coming into the world." He reports that Jesus said to the people, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." And "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness."
The magi sought and followed a "great light" that led them to Christ; we, too, are called to seek and follow a great light – the light that IS Christ. The magi found their light in the sky; we will find ours deep within our own hearts and spirits. Prayer is the road and the way that will lead us to that Light.
There is a story from the tradition of Islam concerning a king who lived in what would now be northern Afghanistan. This king was incredibly wealthy according to every earthly measure. At the same time, however, he was sincerely and restlessly striving to be wealthy spiritually as well.
The story goes that, "One night the king was roused from sleep by a fearful stomping on the roof above his bed. Alarmed, he shouted: 'Who's there?' 'A friend,' came the reply from the roof. 'I've lost my camel.' Perturbed by such stupidity, the king screamed: 'You fool! Are you looking for a camel on the roof?' 'You fool!' the voice from the roof answered. 'Are you looking for God in silk clothing, and lying on a golden bed?' "
The story goes on to tell, according to Jesuit theologian Walter G. Burghardt, how these simple words filled the king with such terror that he arose from his sleep to become a most remarkable saint of Islam.
The "camel on the roof" raises the Epiphany question, "Where are you looking for God?" This compelling question of life properly stands at the beginning of a new year as a reminder that God is not to be found where the world's princes and powers reside. The story calls us to be like the king's friend, willing to make a fool of ourselves asking the camel-on-the-roof question to a world busy seeking God in all the wrong places.
We will never find God...we will never find the Light that is Christ...through things or other people or even in the spiritual techniques we practice or in the self-help books we read. On New Year's Eve afternoon, a friend and I rode over to the "Our Lady of the Snows" shrine in Belleville. As we were browsing in the "Shrine Shop," I picked up a book on prayer...one that covered basic ideas and concepts with which I am already familiar and which are also contained in the dozens of books on prayer I probably already own. I went back and forth in my mind for a while – you know, "To buy or not to buy...that is the question" – when that "still, small voice of the mind" which is often the Holy Spirit said to me, "Teena...you don't need another book on how to pray. What you need to do IS PRAY!" Sometimes, if the truth be told, our reading and study and talking about prayer becomes a good way to avoid actually praying.
That's why, this morning, we gave out a little "starter tool" for those who want to begin (or return to) a habit of daily prayer. Because our Stewardship theme uses the words, "How Sweet It Is," every Sunday this month we will be giving out different candies to represent the aspects of our stewardship. Today, everyone should have gotten a "Lifesaver."
On one level, using a "Lifesaver" to represent prayer makes perfect sense; prayer IS a lifesaver. Prayer can change our lives, enhance our lives, uplift our lives, bring greater meaning to our lives. It doesn't usually happen immediately, but – in the long term – those who practice a regular, committed use of prayer in their lives will tell you that they have been changed for the better. Prayer can figuratively and literally save lives.
There's another reason for the use of a "Lifesaver" this morning, though. Spending time being quiet and still with God is not something we have been culturally trained to do. We are taught to move, do, act, produce. The stillness and "being-ness" of prayer don't come easily for many folks. So here's where a "Lifesaver" can come in.
If you want to begin (or resume) spending time in prayer every day, start with a "Lifesaver" (or any similarly sized mint or piece of sugarless candy, if you prefer). Place the candy in your mouth...and pray. Talk to God or...even better...be still and listen for God. Don't worry about what's being accomplished or what the results will be; just be with God for the length of time it takes that candy to dissolve in your mouth. (And don't cheat God out of time by biting!) I found that it takes about 15 minutes for the candy to slowly dissolve. Start with that amount of time each day; that's really not too much to ask, now is it? Making a resolution to begin a prayer life by spending an hour every morning and evening in prayer is ridiculous – you won't do it. And that's O.K. We are not in some competition to see who can be the most holy and pious before God. We are living a life that God wants to share with us through the development of a deep and abiding relationship! Relationships take time and effort and priority. Start small...and let the relationship build and grow naturally. Use books and ideas and other people to help you learn and grow...but don't try to substitute them for that "lifesaving" time with God.
We all need to make prayer a greater priority in our lives – not just for what it will do for us personally but also for what it will do for us as a church.
I told you that Jesus is "the Light of the world." But get this: in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus said to the disciples – and Jesus says to us even today, church – "You are the light of the world. ...let your light shine before everyone...."
If every individual in this church would commit to spending time with God in prayer every day, we would change our part of the world in absolutely amazing ways! This church's vision is "changed lives." That means that we are not just called to "see" the light of Christ...but we, as a church, as called to BE the light of Christ for others, to be a church to which people are drawn because God's Spirit here is palpable – because God's power here is real!
This morning we heard the prayer of the apostle Paul for the Ephesian church; he prayed that they might "fully grasp the breadth, length, height and depth of Christ's love...and experience this love that surpasses all understanding...." This church's mission is to "manifest, communicate and celebrate God's surpassing love." The embodiment of that surpassing love – that love which overshadows, outdoes, overcomes and supercedes everything was found by the Magi as they followed the light of a star. For us, that love is to be found in seeking the light of Christ through prayer. The more we pray, the more we will be filled with that light...and the more we will become a beacon for others who are seeking the light for themselves.
Prayer is not wishful thinking...hoping against hope...or an exercise in futility. Prayer is our God-given means of connection and communication with the divine Spirit and Power of Christ! In this new year, may we seek that Light before -- and more than -- anything else. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain by being good stewards of the practice of prayer. After all: the life prayer saves may be your own! Amen.
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