Jeremiah 31:7-14     Ephesians 1:3-6,15-19a                  or Matthew 2:1-12     Psalm 84 or 84:1-8

A child is born who brings joy to the world and new hope – a child, whose very birth attracted the shepherds in the field and now the wise men from the East.  The birth of Christ brings with it the range of human emotions – a woman about to give birth can find no better place to deliver her child than in a stable.  How desperate she and Joseph must have been when they were looking for a place to stay that night, a place for her to give birth.  Then, after she delivers this child – the child whose life has been foretold, the shepherds and then the wise men arrive.  The shepherds came because the angel Gabriel appeared to them announcing the birth of the messiah.  The wise men came from the East because they observed the star rising and knew the writings of the prophets had been fulfilled. We heard the writings of the prophets read this morning, “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."

The angel Gabriel came to Mary and told her the Lord had chosen her to give birth to the messiah.  Now in a manger, after giving birth, the Magi are here, knelling before her child, paying him homage, and giving him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  It is an amazing story, with an equally as amazing ending – or is it?

Certainly the story of Christ’s birth is amazing, and both Matthew and Mark tell the story such that we can understand that it was the people, not the religious authorities that understood the significance of his birth.  The Magi, the wise men from the East, underscore that Christ’s message was not just for the people of Israel.  His message was for all of humanity.  But the question that we need to ask ourselves is this:  does this story have an end?  The Bible has a beginning and an end – but the story of Christ’s resurrection and redemption has no end.  As long as we continue to tell the story, it continues.  Christ is, not was, resurrected.  Christ is alive and is in our midst. 

In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he writes:  “I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers.”  Paul refers to all Christians as saints.  So he is speaking of the reputation of the church in Ephesus as one in which its members have faith in Jesus Christ and love one another.  Paul goes on to say, “I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him.”  Paul prays the people will continue to grow in the knowledge and love of Christ, “so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints.” Paul says that God has called the people of Ephesus.  He wants them to understand the inheritance that is theirs as Christians the “immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe.”   

Four verses after our reading today, Paul, in this letter, refers to the Church as Christ’s body.  Then in the next chapter, Paul writes, “For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life (Eph 2:10 NRS).”  “Our way of life,” he says. Paul’s pray for the people of Ephesus is his prayer for all the saints, the whole body of Christ.  Paul’s prayer for us, to know and love Christ, his prayer for us, to know and understand, and his prayer  for us, that we might grow in wisdom and our hearts be enlightened; Paul’s prayer is not without purpose.   As the body of Christ, as the resurrected Christ, it is up to us to spread the good news of the hope of our future – and it is up to us to love and serve Christ is all persons.  This is to be our way of life that God has prepared for us.

Unto us a child is born who is the hope of our salvation.  The shepherds know it; the wise men from the East know it.  May God give you “the spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him.”

Let us pray.

            Oh God, help us to grow in the knowledge and love of Christ, help us to discern your call to St. Andrew’s that we might do your will.  Guide us in our decisions that we might expand our ministries and be the body of Christ in this community and in the world – that we might reflect your love and bring others to you.  Amen.