Delivered on Sunday 06 January 2008 in St George's Chapel

Matthew 2:1-12

I'm puzzled. I've read that passage from Matthew over and over and I'm left wondering, why is it that these wise men are the good guys? Here's my problem: these wise men - in all likelihood - were astrologers; they tried to forecast future events by studying the movement of the stars. And that's a problem because astrology is forbidden in the Old Testament. In Deuteronomy it clearly states:

Nor must you raise your eyes to the heavens and look up to the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, and be led astray to bow down to them in worship. [1]

And the prophets likewise condemn. Here's what Isaiah has to say:

Let your astrologers, your star-gazers who foretell your future month by month, persist, and save you! See, they are like stubble and the fire consumes them. [2]

Given this attitude towards astrology why make these chaps the heroes? So there's my problem. And I will return to it a little later but for the moment lets just see what our heroes got up to.

Our astrologers first turn up in Jerusalem looking a bit of information. Where, they want to know, is the child who has been born king of the Jews? They're clearly from out of town. Everyone in Jerusalem knows full well that Herod is King of the Jews. He's been king for well over thirty years. It's no surprise then that when Herod, himself, gets wind of these inquiries he gets the jitters. Feeling more than a little threatened he calls together the religious leaders. He sits them down and asks them where it is that the Christ was to be born. They consult the scriptures and with one voice answer 'Bethlehem'. Now Herod has a plan. He invites the astrologers around for afternoon tea and obligingly answers their question. And without the faintest tremor in his voice he instructs "Go and search diligently for the child, and once you've found him do bring me word so I too can go and pay him homage". Likely story. It's even more likely that this notoriously cruel king will send one of his henchmen to put a final and perhaps gruesome end to his little problem.

The astrologers, meantime, headed off in the direction of Bethlehem aid by a wandering star. They followed it and followed it until it stopped directly over the place where the king of the Jews lay in his mother's arms. Delighted, they entered the house, worshipped the infant and offered him extraordinary gifts. What happened next is unclear but we do know that they had a dream warning them not to bother bringing word to Herod but instead to go home by the scenic route. And that's the story of the visiting astrologers; the story of the Epiphany.

But let me now return to my problem. Given that astrology is condemned in the Old Testament why is it that these astrologers are the heroes of this story? It took me a while to work this out but I think it has to do with the story of Balaam. [3] You may remember it. King Balak of Moab wakes up one morning and discovers that an entire nation - the Israelites - have camped on his doorstep. Worried that they will eat up all his food resources he calls on one of his pagan astrologers, Balaam, to curse these pesky immigrants. But as Balaam is on his way to meet Balak he has an adventure with a talking donkey. The upshot of all this is that Balaam does not curse the Israelites but instead, doing exactly what God has asked him to do, he blesses them. What's more he foretells that a star will rise out of Israel and that a new king will come forth. Our astrologers are in the mould of Balaam. Like Balaam they may be astrologers, like Balaam they may be pagans, but like Balaam they recognise the presence of God when they come across it.

Their recognition stands in direct contrast to Herod and the people of Jerusalem. When they heard the astrologers talking about the birth of the king of the Jews they were all frightened. Herod feared for his political life. The people, although they had waited a long time for their Messiah, preferred to opt for the quiet life. Even the Church leaders couldn't be bothered. Certainly they diligently searched the scriptures to get the answer to Herod's question, but they weren't going to travel out to some pokey little village out in the back of beyonds. They were too caught up in the shenanigans in the big smoke. They were all told about the birth of the Christ - all of them thought to themselves, it's better just to keep things as they are. Comfort zones are cosy places.

To be fair to Herod and the people of Jerusalem recognizing the presence of Christ is not a straightforward matter. Ask Mary Magdalene. She initially failed to recognise the risen Christ thinking he was the gardener. Ask the disciples walking on the road to Emmaus; they only recognized the risen Christ when he broke their bread. Meeting Christ is not as simple as it sounds. And perhaps we need to open to the possibility that those that stand outside our little in-group might well meet Christ when we fail to. Perhaps it happens that modern day outcasts meet with Christ while Church people spend their time keeping things just the way they are.

Perhaps. But where can we meet Christ? The same gospel writer who told us the story of the astrologers also tells us "Whatever you do for one of these little ones you do for me". That's why issues relating to the fair distribution of wealth, the eradication of starvation, and the provision of decent medical care, are not add-ons to the Christian faith - they are at the very heart of it. That's also why the Christian faith demands that we keep moving beyond our comfort zones. As Christians we cannot be a Balak. We cannot desire a life without sharing. Bluntly, if we want a fair distribution of wealth and resources we cannot continue to live at our current rate of consumption. If are really to make a difference there will be a cost. There is a price attached to this meeting with Jesus. And doesn't he know it. The astrologers came with a question, 'where is the child who has been born king of the Jews?' There was no need for such a question on a Friday afternoon, when Jesus lay enthroned on a cross, for over his head a sign had been placed 'This is Jesus, the King of the Jews'.

Do we really want to meet him?

[1] Dt 4.19

[2] Is. 47.13-14

[3] Num. 22-24