We keep our tree up and lit until today, first to remind us that Christ is the light of the world and to remind us that as Christians the meaning of Christmas has just begun. On Epiphany Sunday we remember the story of the wise ones bringing gifts fit for a king to Jesus in a humble house in Bethlehem. They are overwhelmed with joy as they find the child with his mother Mary. In the Book of Matthew there are no shepherds, no angels, and no manger. The Bible does not say that these travelers are kings. Most likely they are astrologers and dream analyzers from Persia. They have traveled a huge distance over many months, perhaps even more than a year, over tough terrain. These wise ones are the ones who announce the meaning of this child's life. In Matthew it is Gentiles, outsiders, who are the first ones to declare the significance of this precious child, the king of the Jews, the Messiah for the whole world, their Saviour. They are so changed by the experience that they cannot return the same way. They find a new way forward, a new way home.

In The Vancouver Sun on December 22 there was a very interesting front page interfaith article on the meaning of Jesus for Muslims, Jews, Roman Catholics, and Protestants. Gary Patterson, the minister at St. Andrew's-Wesley United Church, was quoted saying, "When he [Jesus] is called the lamb of God, the son of God, we need to take that metaphorically. Jesus is the lens through which God is illuminated for Christians." The use of metaphor is very important when trying to interpret and understand scripture. Reading the Bible metaphorically helps the Word of God become a Living Word giving meaning for us today. The truth of the gospel can be grasped with all of our being, our head, heart and spirit.

I agree with Gary that Jesus is the way that Christians learn about God. This week in my reading, praying and reflection on this passage the words "building bridges" even though I never saw them written anywhere came out like bold print. At first I wondered what that meant. Then I started to work with the word bridge. A bridge enables one to get from point a to point b: sometimes that is over water, railroad tracks, or lanes of traffic. If we don't maintain the bridge it can soon become impassable or worse yet it crumbles when someone is on it and people end up in turbulent troubled waters or in the middle of ongoing traffic. For me, Jesus is the bridge between God and humanity, particularly Gentiles. God reaches out to us in Jesus, bridges the wide gap, and for the first time in history makes it possible for all Gentiles to know the Creator of all that is.

The Jewish people had already found fulfillment with God through the Torah or Jewish scriptures. Jesus is our bridge and it is up to us accept the invitation to meet God and to maintain a relationship with God through Jesus. The invitation is not just for some people…for those who consider themselves good enough, or who others consider worthy…the offer of unconditional love is not extended to just those who have followed all the rules their whole life. No!.. In the familiar verse, John 3: 16 it says, "For whosoever believes in Jesus Christ…" That "whosoever" are you and me and everyone else who wants to follow Christ. It gives me great hope and peace to know that no matter what troubled waters we have to cross we can do it with the unending extension of God's love and guidance.

So that is step one. God offers us a way to always be in relationship with the Divine and we accept and develop that relationship. And the dance begins. Then what? Well step two of course! The next part of the dance! Jesus' ministry broke the bounds of religious, ethnic and societal barriers. He proclaimed the Good News of God's saving love in the synagogues, in homes where women and men sat at his feet. He invited children to his knee. Jesus healed the sick, the lepers and the so called sinners and tax collectors. His ministry included both Jews and Gentiles. Insiders and outsiders alike were invited to follow him.

Jesus told his disciples that it was up to them to spread the Good News, to heal the sick, to proclaim God's saving Word, to show hospitality to the stranger, to welcome all who wanted to follow in the Way. And so they became bridge builders spanning areas that never before knew of Christ and the Love of God. Generation after generation was called upon by God to build bridges. Sometimes in history we got it wrong, somehow thinking we were God and could say who was welcome on the inside and who was to stay on the outside. Sometimes we set up roads blocks with rules, doctrine, and only literal interpretation of scripture so that there was no way for others to make it over the bridge. Some Christians insisted that we had the only right and true way to God and others who did not follow that way were headed straight to hell, no two ways about it. But God's ways will not be foiled and God persists to build bridges to humanity. God's grace and love are for everyone.

And so step three is us…the dance has been passed on to our time, our generation to build bridges to others, welcoming them into God's love and acceptance. Ours are bridges of radical hospitality, affirming inclusion, deepening of spiritual awareness, prayerful consideration of the needs of others and action in our community to make this world a safe and just place for all of God's children. Some of us have been building bridges with others all our lives. I know a number of you have invited friends and family to join in this community of faith and through your hospitality they have come and found a home. Each one of us is called to build bridges and that may not always be easy.

The Magi were called out of comfort and routine by a star in the sky that urged them to follow an unknown and uncertain path. Each one of us is called to move from the known to the unknown as we follow the maps and sign posts along the way not knowing the destination. Some like Bren, Drew and Christine who are all in various stages of preparing for the possibility of designated ministry are taking one kind of journey to build bridges. However most of us are called to build bridges right where we live. I wonder, what new bridge is God calling you to build? What bridge needs some repair and attention? What comforts or routines might you need to leave behind to answer this call? As individuals and as a community of faith, God is counting on us to reach out…cross the gap and offer a way for all who wish to follow Christ to have a safe and loving home and a community of support. God came to us as we were and slowly transformation takes place. The same is true for each person. God welcomes us and enfolds us in love just as we are: travelers on the journey of life seeking to find meaning and truth, joy and peace.

My friends, the effects of Christmas have just begun. Remember that bridges are two way. Not only are you called to extend love to others but also expect sacred encounters with the Holy and see the Divine nature of God in others as they reach out to you. Then I wonder how your life will be changed as you cross that bridge and feel the warmth and comfort, experience the acceptance and love and know the peace and joy that comes from being in the presence of the Divine as the incarnate Word is alive in you and me.



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