Christian Garbology ~ Matthew 2:1-12 ~ Epiphany of Our Lord

Nestled deep within the realm of anthropology, sociology, and marketing is a little-known field of study known as “garbology,” or the study of garbage.  Fact is the average American will accumulate 109 tons of trash in their lifetime.  So there’s much to be learned about individuals as well as communities and civilizations.  Garbage reveals what’s important to a person—what is treasured.

When you treasure something, you always leave something else behind…

But are we truly wise to what is treasure—and what is trash?

Today, God is leading the Magi to the one who is the greatest treasure the world will ever know.  But I wonder if even they were prepared for how great a treasure they would find?

The Magi have to be some of the New Testament’s most mysterious characters.  They’ve been referred to as “kings of orient,” but there’s really no truth to that.  They were magicians, sorcerers, and astrologers.  They were constantly looking to the sky for truth.  Somehow, some way, by God’s grace and the writings of the prophets, they learned that a star would be involved in the revealing of the Jewish Messiah—and they learned it so well that they knew exactly what to look for.  So they set out.

So after an unsuccessful consultation with the “King of Jews” known as Herod, the Magi continue to follow the star to the house where Jesus was.  Upon arriving, they open their treasure chests, and give Jesus gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  It’s likely Mary and Joseph had little use for the latter two gifts.  But that’s not the point here. They didn’t give these gifts because they’re great baby gifts.  These gifts were an expression of love for the treasure they’d found in Jesus.  We don’t know if the Magi gave Jesus some or all of the goods and gold they possessed.  But that’s okay—because knew Jesus as the greatest treasure.  They’re taking home the love of God—and their testimony that salvation isn’t found in the stars, but in the baby Jesus. 

This Jesus treasures them and all the people of the world so greatly that he will lay down his life. 

So what about all this trash we create?  How does a season of giving become a season of boxing-up and throwing away?

I think about my garbage.  The fast food trash and Styrofoam tell me that I treasure convenience.  The worn-out appliances and electronics invite me to upgrade to the latest and greatest.  Then there’s the whole matter of wasted water, electricity, and gasoline—and all the pollution of my consumption.  But it’s not just stuff that’s getting wasted.  People are getting wasted, too.

Consider King Herod—he treasured his wealth and power so much that he didn’t even flinch to unleash horrific violence against innocent children in order to preserve it.  He is an extreme but powerful example of how we treasure things for ourselves so much that we abuse others without even thinking about it—and turn our backs to the neighbors in need.

But God through the Holy Spirit has called and gathered us from far and wide to bring us to Jesus.  God gives faith so that you can all live in daily communion with him, so that he can reveal to you how greatly God treasures you.  Your time, your selves, and your possessions are all signs of God’s gracious love.  Yet we can easily miss out on the wonders of his love in pursuit of the things we treasure and that we think we can’t live without, but that leave only a trail of trash, hurt people, and missed opportunities.

We don’t know what Mary and Joseph did with the Magi’s gifts—though they could proven very useful in financing their escape to Egypt.  When you treasure Jesus, you present gifts that bring redemption and healing, instead of trash and destruction.

We can call the Magi “wise men” chiefly because they know true treasure when they see it.  They go home with empty treasure chests yet full of the love Jesus.  His love has the power to revolutionize that which you treasure, to create in you the heart of Christ.  His love will exercise itself in you giving gifts that heal instead of making trash. 

So perhaps it’s time to become a kind of garbologist of yourself—to look at your trash, and hear as God calls you to a new way of living.  It’s time to become stewards instead of consumers; to be thankful for all that God gives but not allow the good to stop with us.  Everything we have and everything we do can become gifts that heal instead of destroying.  Things like locally-sourced food and fair-trade goods; to cast aside convenience so to treasure people and relationships.  Instead of racing against the clock, scrambling towards the next big thing, you can live in the heart of Christ, full of mercy, patience, and love.

May God give you the wisdom to know your treasure from your trash—and live accordingly.