Sunday of the Epiphany Audio

Do you know how I know someone really loves me? When I am sweaty and stinky and look like I haven't showered in a month and someone says, "give me a hug!" And I respond, "I stink!" And they say, "so what - give me a big hug anyway!" - that's when I know they love me. They don't love me only when I smell good or do the right things or act a certain way - they love me for who I am.

We always picture the magi showing up in these really expensive robes and jeweled crowns and smelling like the perfume section at Sephora - but how would you smell - what would you look like if you spent four months wandering through the desert? I'm kind of thinking they were as ripe as those stinky shepherds on Christmas Eve. It wasn't about them - it was about Jesus - the Baby who came to bring life and light and maybe some air freshener.