Good day, dear friends.
Today, January 6th is the Day of Epiphany, traditionally associated with the visit of the Magi to the Lord Jesus Christ. The Gospel lesson about their visit is in Matthew and reads,
"1 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 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." 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 6 "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.' " 7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 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." 9 When 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. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 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. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
In some corners of the world shoes have been left outside doors expecting the main gifts of this holiday season. In some places the shoes are placed outside the main door of one's house; others the door to one's bedroom. And for many, the gifts are quite nice. Some, though, do report they just receive the same grass they left in them for the camels of the magi!
The gift was really ours. God acted on our behalf and sent the precious gift of an invitation to a better way to live. God having sent Jesus Christ was to invite us to a full relationship with Him.
The magi brought the gifts they were led to bring: gold, the gift for a king. Jesus is known as the King of kings; frankincense, (how we giggled as children thinking it was too close to frankinstein) the gift for a priest, whose burning of incense was to remind the people of God's presence. Jesus is the High Priest, He who intercedes for us; the 'bridge' between God and humans. The gift of myrrh. The gift that puzzled Mary but knew that it involved death. He who would die for the sins of the world, for your sins and mine. This was a symbolic gesture on the part of the magi; they did only what God instructed them.
They came from the East, nonJews obedient to God's leading, eager to know how the ancient prophecies they had studied would come true. That night in the Christ child they found out. Have you?
PRAYER: God of true light and love, make us know Jesus today and all days. Let us know Jesus came for all the earth. Help us to be a part of those who share that news with others, especially the ones who have not yet heard. We pray in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
See you in worship!
e.v.
