Foreigners, Gentiles, and Wise Men from the East

    The scripture readings for Epiphany Sunday, (January 8th) are an example of how the the lectionary ties together an Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel reading around a common theme. In this case, the theme is God's universal call. In Isaiah 60:1-6 Jersualem hears that:

(Foreign) Nations will come to your light,  and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

 In that time (and in this) Jerusalem looked on the Nations as enemies.

    In Ephesians 3:1-6 St. Paul tells us:

This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

The Gentiles, thought of as enemies will become members of the same body.

    In the gospel (Mt. 2:1-12) we read that wise men came from the East. They recognized Jesus as a King, even though the residents of Jerusalem did not.

Those of us who reside comfortably inside a congregation need to ask ourselves this question: "Why was it that the Epiphany came to outsiders instead of the establishment?"