Sermons In Time

The Light of Understanding

The Light of Understanding
The Gift of Appreciation

Old Testament: Isaiah 60:1-6,
Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12

1.Walking in the darkness is not an experience that is very pleasant. You cannot see where you
are going. It is easy to get lost. How can one know the way, when there is darkness everywhere'?

When I was a lad, our family visited Carlsbad Caverns. In those early days, the group walked down
into the depths of the cavern. As we sat near "The Rock of Ages," the rangers extinguished all
the lights. I remember sitting next to my father, not more than two feet away. In the darkness it was
impossible to see anything. I remember vividly feeling the fear of being blind. How difficult it would
have been to get out Of that place were we not to have the lights on again.

As we sat for two long minutes in absolute darkness, there was another fear that came over my being.
I wanted to reach out and touch my dad. Yet, I was afraid to do so. In the darkness it was almost
as if he had disappeared. If I reached out and he was not there, it would be devastating.

What a relief it was for the Light to return. In those quiet moments we heard the sounds of the hymn
"Rock, of Ages." I felt a serenity return which has never left.

I once had a professor suggest there is "no darkness so dark, as Outer darkness." It still suggests
that desperate absence of God in the world.

To be "in the dark." is a devastating experience. One kind of darkness is the darkness of ignorance, of not
knowing. It is this kind of darkness of which Isaiah is speaking in the Old Testament. The question
becomes, "what is going to, happen to us'?" "What does the future hold?" When one is going through
a major decision, this sense of darkness is often pervasive. When one doesn't know for .any reason, there
is a darkness in the life.

For example, times of life transition, or times when there is uncertainty in the world can be times of
darkness. When a person wants to pursue a new venture and doesn't know how, that person can be "in the
dark." At such times in our life, we need light. We need understanding. One of the rich messages of
Epiphany is that such light is available. The light of knowledge and understanding is available to every
person, No one in all of God's earth is excluded from the privilege of the pursuit of knowledge and
understanding.

In an earlier age of humanity, people believed the winter solstice was to continue, and light would leave
completely. It was an experience of joy and surprise to see the days become longer again. It is like young
students introduced to a new subject. When the pursuit begins, understanding takes forever. As the study
continues, however, so does learning. The student becomes filled with knowledge and understanding. Such
a pursuit is a gift of God. Even as the gift of salvation was given to all the world in Jesus, so also, all of
God's gifts to human life are given to the world. Such is the impact of Epiphany.

2. When understanding and knowledge come, it is natural for the healthy soul to express appreciation.
The story of the Magi is not only an announcement of God's gift of the light of salvation to all the world.
It is also the expression of Appreciation by those who receive that light.
It is difficult to conceive of any person or any group of people having received the opportunity of
knowledge and understanding not being grateful. There is a natural expression of joy when one makes a
discovery. When the ancient Greek philosopher discovered the principle of displacement in geometry he
jumped out of his bath and cried "Eureka! I have found it.. It is a story with which we can all identify.
Immediately, he ran through the community celebrating his discovery. When we receive such a gift of
understanding, we want to, tell the whole world. New understandings and insights, new ways of unfolding the
future are exciting news and we want to share them with others.

Such has been the experience of the ages. The light of God revealed in Jesus Christ is good news. It is an understanding
of what it means to live well in this world. It is the fulfillment of the hope of all the ages. It is what maintains sanity
in the midst of a time of stress such as the present crisis. It is the implicit hope that a better way will emerge in the affairs of humanity in the world. I really believe that the message of Epiphany is very important as we look to, the tomorrows. As we envision what we might do, what we might become as the people of God. It is out of such an understanding that we have hope for children, for families, for education, for the State, the Nation, and the World.

The discovery of understanding and knowledge leads one to say "Thank you." That is the purpose of the gift
of appreciation. It is to say, "Thank You" to a teacher. It is to tell the one who has helped us through the darkness how much we appreciate "The light at the end of the tunnel." It is the gift to the world of our new understanding. Those who have made those discoveries in living which have transformed our society, know a reward greater than just money. There has to be the realization of a contribution to the welfare of society. The gift of the Magi to the Christ child was more than just a Christmas present to the new born child.

It was a way of saying to God how Much this gift of his meant to these who, came to worship. Such is the nature of our gifts to God. We give out of deep appreciation for all the fullness that life has made possible for us.

How appropriate Epiphany is at the beginning of a New Year. It is a time of new plans, new opportunities, new understandings. Epiphany has a way of putting this into perspective. We do not search out the New Year for our own selfishness. We want to let our lives be an expression of our gratitude to God for the gifts given to us. We want to use those gifts well in the service of our world. We want the future to be a wholesome and worthwhile place for all people to, grow and to develop. It is with simple humility we bow before the vastness of our darkness. We express the joy of the light of understanding that is ours and say,"Thank. you, God." Amen.

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