6th January - ‘The Epiphany’

7th January 2019
Parish Pump

as published in Great Yarmouth Parish Life

Journey of the Magi

“A cold coming we had of it. Just the worst time of the year. For a journey and such a long Journey"
(‘A Journey of the Magi’ T S Elliot)
 

In his poem T S Elliot imagines the journey of the Magi to worship Jesus as told in Matthew 2. This story is at the heart of the celebration of Epiphany, as we remember the astrologers from the East following a star to find the baby. ‘Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship Him’ (Matthew 2:1,2)
 
The Magi provide a powerful picture of the journey we make in searching for God in our lives. Like them, it requires time and effort (they travelled for months) and it will not always easy! As they followed the star, so we are called to pursue God’s light in our lives
 
What does this say to us at the beginning of a New Year? Are we ready to go deeper in our relationship with God? Are we looking for new way to use our time, treasure and talents for Him? It is a great time to offer these things to Him, and like the Magi, commit ourselves to pursue them. His light, through prayer, worship and his Word, will be our guide on the way
 
T S Elliot used the imagined journey of the magi to reflect on his own spiritual journey. It reveals the pain and doubts he experienced on his long and troubled journey to find the light of Christ. He describes finding Christ as a ‘hard and bitter agony for us, like Death, our death’
 
Are we prepared to make this journey for ourselves?    
 

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