A Word from Joel - January 7, 2026

“Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.” Matthew 2:11-12

On Sunday, we celebrated Epiphany in which God’s salvation revealed to all the nations of the world. Just as the Magi came from a distant land to worship the Christ child, God’s grace is revealed and given to all. Like with the Christmas story, Epiphany is far less sanitized and safe than our pageants and nativities indicate. With a violent and egomaniacal king on the throne, Jesus is born. Matthew tells us Magi from the east show up in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?” Herod is terrified by this because he’s not interested in losing his throne. In Herod’s last days, he became more violent, unpredictable, and immoral. As that happens, the only moral path is nonviolent resistance, which is what the Magi take.

After they honor the Christ child, God warns the Magi about Herod’s cruel intentions, so “they returned to their country by another route.” In other words, they leave their encounter with Christ as changed people, willing to disobey Herod. One indication you’ve had a divine encounter and not simply a worshipping a projection of your own ego is that it changes you. Your view of the world, your values, your hopes and your loves are forever changed. You end up caring about people you wouldn’t otherwise care for and resist the powers of violence to protect the weak. Obedience to wicked rulers isn’t righteous. Nonviolent resistance is. 

On Sunday our choir sang Howard Thurman’s poem, “The Work of Christmas,” which says:

When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:

To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among brothers,
To make music in the heart.

Though Christmas is over, the work of Christmas begins anew. The good news is that God has not left us alone in this fearful and violent world. God came and still comes to find what’s lost and heal what’s broken. God invites us to be changed people who go home by another road, the road of non-violent resistance, which is the way of the Christ. Though the Herods of this world remain, God has revealed the path to peace for all. Fear doesn’t stop us from taking that road. May we find the courage to take it.