Discovery and reason

Matthew 2:1-11

            Today the church remembers two great people, known primarily for their contributions to astronomy (as we know it today) but they were brilliant and holy in their own right. Nicolaus Copernicus was a mathematician, astronomer, physician, quadrilingual polyglot, classical scholar, translator, artist, Catholic cleric, jurist, governor, military leader, diplomat and economist, phew! Pretty heavy stuff. Johannes Kepler was an imperial mathematician, astronomer and astrologer and worked in the filed of optics.  These men lived in a time when astronomy and astrology were not as divided as they are today.  Astrology today while offering information to man is often viewed with a bit of scepticism. Still it seems many people love to read their horoscope.  Astronomy on the other hand is a rather precise science today. It is almost daily that we find new stars, solar systems and far more potentially habitable planets than was ever conceived in the human mind.

             The revolution that these men helped give rise to in their far flung 'hertical' ideas is a gift from God. While Copernicus' works were denounced and censored and it was until 1835 that the church 'came around' (his work was published in 1543), he gave the world a new vision for man and an insight into the complexity and majesty of God's creation.

              In today's passage, 'men from the east' followed a star that led to Jesus. How amazing. Right there is the respect for astrology. Not that it is thee answer to all our problems mind you, but the rudimentary knowledge is spoken of and had it not had value, the scriptures would be changed immeasurably. Interesting thought to ponder.

              Sometimes things that are so far fetched and seemingly beyond our comprehension or what the church 'swears by' as incorrect is actually correct. Imagine that. No puns intended but the sky did not fall with the knowledge Copernicus put forth, nor that of Kepler.  Yesterday I noted that I have nether the wisdom nor the knowledge to reconcile God's world, specifically the myriad religions that exist today.  Perhaps we need a modern Copernicus, a Merton on steroids. Or perhaps our problems can be solved simply by looking up and opening our eyes as Copernicus did. Most often the answers are right in front of us and they are often simple too.

              One thing I do know about Kepler. He said something that I have long held true, long before I knew who Kepler was. Kepler said  that God had created the world according to an intelligible plan that is accessible through the natural light of reason. That too is impressive. We can discover God simply by opening our eyes and using reason. Not by contorted and convoluted reasoning, not by circular logic so often employed by the church but by simple reason.  Just as the answer is simply love, another great answer for man is simple observation and seeing what the truth is.

           What truths will you see? That God loves you? That all men (and women) are created equal? That we are all brothers and sisters on this globe? That there is a plan that involves scientific discovery in the world? That your gay neighbors are really decent people and simply want to love and live? Perhaps you'll discover that we all make mistakes and that we should be a bit more understanding of other peoples' insecurities, mistakes and sins. 

        As broad as the sky is, as magnificent as the million points of light are in the night sky, so is the love of God and his desire to help us. If we only open our eyes and employ reason.

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’ When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
“And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
   are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
   who is to shepherd^* my people Israel.” ’

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.’ ⁹When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.