Readings for Epiphany are: - Isaiah 60:1-6
- Psalm 72:10-15
- Ephesians 3:1:12
- Matthew 2:1-12
The gospel reading features the Jorney of the mgi from the east. They travel first to Jeruealem whiuch actually wasn't very wise - they soon discoveredthat they had got the wrong place and Bruegemann coined the phrase "Nine miles wide" to describe their mistake. bethlehem is 9 miles from jerusalem. It was an easy enough mistake to make though because we presume big things hppen in big places - not in backwaters. Epiphany is a whole season of Sundays which features "showings" of Jesus. They include this year: - Jesus' Baptism and the voice from heaven
- The sign at Cana
- Jesus' mission statement (Luke 4:14-21)
- The testimony of old Simeon nd Anna (Luke 2:22-40)
The Eucharistic Preface in Common Worship contains these words of thanksgiving and celebration: All honour and praise be yours always and everywhere,
mighty creator, ever-living God,
through Jesus Christ your only Son our Lord:
for at this time we celebrate your glory
made present in our midst.
In the coming of the Magi
the King of all the world was revealed to the nations.
In the waters of baptism
Jesus was revealed as the Christ,
the Saviour sent to redeem us.
In the water made wine
the new creation was revealed at the wedding feast.
Poverty was turned to riches, sorrow into joy.
Therefore with all the angels of heaven
we lift our voices to proclaim the glory of your name
and sing our joyful hymn of praise: | 
This picture is by Kim Jae Im from Korea
How wise is wise? Saddam Hussein was executed last Saturday. How wise is that? He was tormented by his executioners. How wise is that? The likelihood is that there will be a backlach from Saddam's supportrs, an the prospct for peace in Iraq seems ever more distant. Is it not wiser to do good to our enemies? Romans 12:17-21: Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary:
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
| Magi seems to be the word we use to refer to what we used to all "the wise men" and the "three kings". We don't know how may there were. We on't know whether they were men. Magi seems a good word or us who live in the years HP (Harry Potter). Harry Potter's school is for the development of the magical arts - see "magi" is the first four letters of "magic" and "magician". Those not interested in the higher arts are seen as boring "muggles" - I suppose muggling through life. Epiphany demands that we see mystery in the everyday, heaven on earth an God in being human. The wise and the magi are frequently dismissed as timewasters and naive. Why follow a star? That doesn't seem so wise to people who pride themselves on being "down to earth". Nor does it seem wise to those whp pride themselves for being "worldly wise" to acknowledge their powerlessness as eagerly as the Magi did in kneeling in front of a baby in a stable in Bethlehem. Humility is part of wisdom in this Epiphany story - and the star of Bethlehem points out Jesus' birthplace as well as the need for us to reflect on how we use the power we have. The Magi travelled from the east. It might be that they came from Iran - an interesting thought as western governments continue their foreign policy with so little apparent respect for the resident wisdom of the Middle East. | 
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