The Epiphany of Our Lord, 2018 A.D.
Isaiah 60:1-6
St. Matthew 2:1-12
The thing that stood out to me most on this reading of the lessons for Epiphany is their relentless use of the imagery of Empire. In Isaiah, the kings of the world come to the light of God's people, bringing tribute in almost unimaginable volume, to the extent that the land will be "covered" with the multitude of camels. The idea of Imperial Israel is heightened by pointing to the exile, "your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried in their arms" (RSV), referring to the return from an exile inflicted by the empires of the Assyrians and the Babylonians.
In the Gospel of St. Matthew, a similar contrast occurs: rulers bring tribute to the newborn King of the Jews from afar, and at the same time, the petty ruler of a backwater province of the Roman Empire secretly attempts to find out where the High King is dwelling in order to put out his light. The brief scenes of Herod in Matthew 2 are stinging satire: the minor prince pretending to greatness (he is, after all, referred to as "Herod the Great"), is forced to whisper conspiratorially (v. 7) against a mere infant born in poverty, because in reality he is the Light of God described in Isaiah, the scion of royal David, to whom the nations come, in fact the Mighty God, whose name is "God is with Us."
The true king of kings is the one to whom "all the nations" owe our allegiance, to conform our lives to his Law, and to devote ourselves to worshiping, as the Magi did. For Isaiah, the coming of what Simeon calls the "light unto the Gentiles and the glory of the people Israel" means not simply that the People of God will have light, but they are likened to the Sun, being commanded to "rise," and "shine." Life in the Kingdom of this king is meant to be imitative: a loyal subject does like the King does, by denying himself, taking up his cross and following, and so reflecting the light of Christ.
So, Christian: Arise! Shine! For your light is come.
- Matthew David Wiseman
St. Matthew 2:1-12
The thing that stood out to me most on this reading of the lessons for Epiphany is their relentless use of the imagery of Empire. In Isaiah, the kings of the world come to the light of God's people, bringing tribute in almost unimaginable volume, to the extent that the land will be "covered" with the multitude of camels. The idea of Imperial Israel is heightened by pointing to the exile, "your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried in their arms" (RSV), referring to the return from an exile inflicted by the empires of the Assyrians and the Babylonians.In the Gospel of St. Matthew, a similar contrast occurs: rulers bring tribute to the newborn King of the Jews from afar, and at the same time, the petty ruler of a backwater province of the Roman Empire secretly attempts to find out where the High King is dwelling in order to put out his light. The brief scenes of Herod in Matthew 2 are stinging satire: the minor prince pretending to greatness (he is, after all, referred to as "Herod the Great"), is forced to whisper conspiratorially (v. 7) against a mere infant born in poverty, because in reality he is the Light of God described in Isaiah, the scion of royal David, to whom the nations come, in fact the Mighty God, whose name is "God is with Us."
The true king of kings is the one to whom "all the nations" owe our allegiance, to conform our lives to his Law, and to devote ourselves to worshiping, as the Magi did. For Isaiah, the coming of what Simeon calls the "light unto the Gentiles and the glory of the people Israel" means not simply that the People of God will have light, but they are likened to the Sun, being commanded to "rise," and "shine." Life in the Kingdom of this king is meant to be imitative: a loyal subject does like the King does, by denying himself, taking up his cross and following, and so reflecting the light of Christ.
So, Christian: Arise! Shine! For your light is come.
- Matthew David Wiseman
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