All along life’s path we look for signs, don’t we?  Sometimes they appear in the most practical of ways, as when on the highway we note the speed limit or on more local roads, red and green lights.  In the bank we notice who might serve us by a little plaque placed in front of each teller, just as in storefronts we notice the words “opened” or “closed” hanging against panes of glass.  Signs continually give us direction, helping us along our way.

Of course there are times when a sign might not be so clear.  Take, for example, a few of these awkward translations spotted abroad.  In a hotel in Bucharest this sign appeared on an elevator door:  “The lift is being fixed for the next day.  During that time we regret that you will be unbearable.”  In a Norwegian cocktail lounge these words greeted guests:  “Ladies are requested not to have children in the bar.”  And even more outrageously to the point, at the street entrance of a tailor’s shop in Hong Kong:  “Come have a fit upstairs.”  Yes, signs lead us each every day no matter where we are, pointing us clearly – even if a bit awkwardly – to the services and information we desire.

When it comes to navigating our spiritual lives signs can perhaps seem much more elusive.  Unlike the boldly lettered displays that help us plot a course through our daily grind, signs of a religious nature can be distressingly unapparent.  While guests in a hotel in Athens are notified that “Visitors are expected to complain at the office daily” our communications with God may seem completely unstructured and inadequately defined.  Where can we look when it comes to matters of faith?  Where are God’s signs when we need them in our day-to-day lives?

With Matthew’s description of the magi in this morning’s text we’re offered some clear direction.  Witnessing these men search for spiritual truth we’re provided a great example of how God seeks to lead us toward the radiant hope lying in the manger.  For what do we really observe in this story?  We see signs of faith, as we witness three men trust God’s promises, believing the Messiah has come.  We see signs of perseverance as these three men – rich and powerful in their own kingdoms – travel (for years, scholars say) to a strange and distant land.  We see signs of devotion, as these men fall to their knees to offer tribute and treasure to that holy child.  In the story of the magi we witness a path of Christian discipleship unfold through visible signs of faith, perseverance and devotion.
Certainly this is what Matthew intends.  Preparing this text for an audience beaten down by the realities of persecution and famine, religious upheaval and Roman tirade, the author knew he had to saturate this gospel with inspiration at every turn.  Describing the visit of the wise men (a biblical story not mentioned in other nativity accounts) Matthew brings to the manger a global presence full of redeeming power as Jesus is recognized as Messiah for the world.  On bended knee these foreigners pay their homage, breaking down barriers of race and class, of culture and creed.  With gifts in hand they worship the Christ child, leading Matthew’s community to do the same.

C.S. Lewis once wrote, “We may think God wants actions of a certain kind, but God wants people of a certain kind.”  Ultimately, this is the sign presented in this story.  In the wise men Matthew portrays people of a certain kind:  they are hungry for truth, they are open to change, and they are humbly willing to sacrifice.  Unlike Herod, the great nemesis of Christ consumed by his own supremacy and power, the magi leave their authority behind in order to follow God’s prodding.  Carrying the prophetic treasures of gold, frankincense and myrrh they travel from the east, moving toward Bethlehem where their skin color and clothing are as strange as their inquiries.  “Where is the child, born king of the Jews?” they ask, moving, with open minds, into the mystery and majesty of God’s revelation in Christ.  “We’ve come to pay him homage,” they say, seeking, with open hearts, the grace of God’s salvation.  Yes, in the magi we see people of a certain kind:  those who are unafraid to follow God at every turn.

We might admit the wise men of Matthew’s time are not precisely the example we’re looking for today.  Describing the ways modern Christianity reflects contemporary culture one critic writes, “We want quick change; cheap grace; inspirational platitudes; bumper sticker theology; easy faith.  We want Christianity Lite.  We want the Nice News not necessarily the Good News.” God help us.  Realizing that such fair-weather faith opposes the radical truth of the Gospel we remember that no matter in what context we find ourselves we remain challenged to follow the path of the wise men.  Daring us to travel into new and foreign territory, to take the high road (even though it might be the long road), this story leads us away from security and comfort that we might behold and embrace the power of Christ.  The pilgrimage of the magi asks us to be people of a certain kind.  Is it possible?  Are we hungry for truth, open to change, and willing to sacrifice?

There’s any easy way to assess our situation.  There’s a simple question I like to ask my self when discerning my direction, be it moment-to-moment, day-to-day, or year-by-year.  The question is this:  “Am I moving closer to God?”  It’s a simple query, one that can address a task at hand, an activity of leisure, a household or major career concern.  I ask, “Does this task bring me closer to God?  Does this activity, or project, or plan lead me into God’s presence and purpose?”  Realizing that all of our choices help to develop or deter our relationship with God, questions like these reveal the direction in which we’re traveling, identifying, then, who – and whose – we really are.  Taking the time to ask such questions, and then faithfully contemplating their answers, allows us to travel to the manger with the wise men where we profess our hope and identity truly lie.

Yes, being people of a certain kind requires that our convictions serve as the ultimate roadmap of our lives.  As captured by one Christian pilgrim we realize,“A living faith is not something you have to carry, but something that carries you,” and we see that this is the deep inspiration of the biblical account before us today.  Carrying those prophetic gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh it is the wise men who are carried by God, fully transformed to offer their lives to Christ’s service.  Carrying those faithful treasures of hope it is the wise men who are carried by grace, trusting that ultimately their journey leads them to spiritual truth and fulfillment.

Charting our course to the manger today we remember that it’s not only these three kings who serve as God’s signs but also the women and men living faithfully beside us.  As members of the church offering our prayers and care to one another we see God’s plan unfold, as Outreach projects help the hungry and homeless, as pastoral care initiatives reach out to the grieving and alone, as education programs spread the joy and truth of the Gospel.  Traveling together as modern day disciples we give witness to God’s presence in the world.

We also have the chance to learn from our seminarians.  Recognizing their devotion this Epiphany Sunday/ we celebrate how God’s brilliant star continues to shine, lighting the way for men and women to devote themselves completely to the life of Christ’s church.  In these men and women we witness the fruits of faith, perseverance and devotion grow, as like the wise men they have left behind the security of former professions to enter the mystery of God’s plan for their work.  They are people of a certain kind who are hungry for truth, open to change, and willing to sacrifice.  Having them among us, and offering our support and nurture to them, is a testament to the Holy Spirit’s reigning power, as together we travel onward for the glory of God.

Oh, we are blessed to have this Christian faith revealed among us.  We are blessed to live in a time when we can publicly confess our love of the Gospel without fear of persecution by our own political or religious authorities.  In a time when war covers the globe and worldwide and local economies push people into poverty each day we are called to move from fair-weather faith to devoted conviction, realizing that like those magi we can be wise men and women too as we travel with God to the manger.  For it is there that the greatest sign is lifted before us:  it is the sign of God’s truth made known in the Christ child, the sign of Emmanuel, God with us, always.

Let us pray.
Holy God, Creator and Sustainer of our lives and this world, we set our sights on you this day, recognizing our need for your abiding love and Spirit.  We come, like the wise men, to embrace your presence in Christ.  Lead us on, we pray, that the vision at the manger may carry us forever, inspiring us always to love and serve you.
Amen.

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 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.”  When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.  They told him, “In Bethlehem, of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

‘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.’”

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared.  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.”  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.  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.  And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.