This is the Day of Epiphany which means that it many liturgical churches there will be services of worship using the story of the Magi, or Wise Men, found in Matthew's gospel. It is a story of enlightenment, of curious and committed seekers from one religion finding a Messiah from another. The themes of the spiritual quest, the light that guides us, openness to new possibilities, encountering and worshipping Christ, all emerge on this day.
I assume that worship will take place at the 13th century Cologne Cathedral in Germany today. The cathedral is dedicated to the Magi and contains a Shrine of the Three Kings containing a reliquary which supposedly houses the bones of the visitors from the east. I wouldn't hold my breath on the authenticity of these relics, but it does remind us of the focus of the cathedral.
A couple of evenings ago the lights went out on the normally brightly illuminated cathedral, as a statement about the recent disturbing trend in Germany. There have been protest marches in Dresden and Cologne of many thousands of people. These are anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim protests and both political and religious leaders have spoken against them. It is rather chilling, thinking back eighty years to protests against Jews in Germany and the comparison hasn't been lost on leaders and commentators.
Cologne Cathedral is a Christian place of worship, dedicated to Zoroastrian priests who came seeking a Jewish Messiah. The involvement in the counter-protest is heartening to me.
Had you heard about these marches in Germany? What does it stir up for you? What do you think of the Cologne Cathedral response.
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