Channeling the ancient Magi (the wise men), W. H Auden wrote in his great poem, “Christmas Oratorio”:
At least we know for certain that we are three old sinners, that this journey is much too long, that we want our dinners, and miss our wives, our books, our dogs, but have only the vaguest idea why we are what we are. To discover how to be human now Is the reason we follow this star.
Often, long journeys are worth the trouble. Of course, some people just love to travel. The thought of going somewhere, anywhere, fills them with a sense of adventure. As the poet Edna St. Vincent Milay wrote, “…there isn’t a train I wouldn’t take, no matter where it’s going.” Others travel because there is someone they really want to see, or have a spot they long to visit. And some travel out of necessity, as work or personal or family crisis has made it critical to hit the road. Literally or metaphorically, long journeys are especially challenging for the traveler, but as the poet said, they help us discover how to be human.
It seems fitting during the season of Christmastide, moving into the season of Epiphany, that travel is on our minds. The Magi, these mysterious travelers whose faith and vocation included the observation of the stars, had undertaken a long journey from “the East” to search for a promised ruler. Song, poetry and legend have embellished the story of the Magi, but it is clear that the scriptural witness is that their journey was long, and full of both danger and wonder. Some journeys are just like that.
Faith, and life, are like that, too. Sometimes we know where we are going, and sometimes we don’t. But things rarely resolve as quickly as we had hoped, so genuine faith is always in motion. We’ll talk about this in this service as the sermon is titled “A Blessing for Those Who Have Far to Travel,” arising from Matthew 2: 1-12. This is the last Sunday of the Christmas season, and we will sing carols, share in a time of prayer, and have a moment for children.
If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for decades, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with those of you here in-person (masks required) or joining on the live stream at www.smumc.church at 10:30 AM.