The New Challenge

              The New Challenge
Script: Matt.2.1-12
Intro: Most of us can have the experience of a life time if we put our
selves in the right place and the right time. The most spectacular
celestial fireworks seen in the past 2,000 years has been hidden behind clouds
during most of December. Outshining the moon, and the stars, its glowing
tail is to spread itself over a full sixth of the sky's horizon to horizon
arc. Some of you might see it this month in the northwestern post-sunset
sky, but you'll have to be there at the right time and the right place.
Kohoutek is the name of this Comet of the Century. Named after its Czek
born discovers this comet once it is gone will never again come back at
least not in our lifetime. Its orbit, if it has on e, takes 10,000 years
to complete.
The comet was spotted last March more than 500 million miles out from
the sun and heading in fast. Lubox Kohoutek was able to follow it and
will be among those who will attempt to see it close up on January 15 when
it comes to within 75 million miles of our earth.
What is a comet? A frozen glazier? Cemented together by frozen gases
and eater. But a comet has other qualities. From its presence some are
deducing that the end of the world is imminent--January 15th to be exact.
Ancient peoples had great respect for these celestial visitors. Bertrand
Russell reminds us that one of them foreshadowed the death of Caesar;
another was regarded as indicating the death of emperor Vespasian.
Venerable Bede said that "Comets portend revolutions of kingdoms, pestilenc
war, winds, or heat. John Knox regarded them as an expression of divine
anger. In 1662 the inhabitants of Boston were warned to turn from their
wicked ways. 1974's Kohoutek will not produce a revival. Street lights,
twinkling headlights of jets above, tall buildings, all keep us from
wondering what the heavens portend.
But that does not keep a modern astronomer Dr. Carl Sagan, professor of
astronomy and diredtor of the Laboratory for Planetary Studies at Cornell
University from saying, "Life on earth is intimately bound to stellar
events. Human beings are here because the paroxysms in dying stars thou-sands
of light years away."
I. That reality may have been the ancient impulse within three Magi, or
astrologers from the east. "We have seen the star in the east, where is he
who is born King?" Herod summoned them. He wanted to know the time of the
appearance of this star. Not until they left Herod did they find the star
over the place where Jesus lay.
A. Cosmic event is taking place. Matthew uses what is appropriate for
such an occasion.
1. Mark doesn't mention it. Luke has the heavens and the earth quaking
with an angelic chorus speaking to shepherds on a hillside. John reached
back into the beginnings of all life and draws upon the image of the Word
But Matthew puts the dosmic dimension in the simply symbol of the star.