Epiphany
Visitors from the east
2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
Although 2021 is underway and the Christmas decorations are already down, the 6th January is an important date in the Christian calendar, as it marks the 12th day of Christmas, Epiphany. A day when we remember the story of the Magi who followed a star in search of a Saviour and found him, bowing down and worshipping, offering the new-born King gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
There is lots to unpack in these verses, but at the heart of it all is the wonderful revelation that Jesus, the babe born in Bethlehem, came for all, because God’s love has no boundaries and life in all its fullness is offered to each and everyone. Of course, the very nature of love means that such an invitation is not forced or foisted upon us, the decision to love, to serve, to give of ourselves and trust and follow Jesus is ours to choose.
At the start of this new year I imagine there are lots of things we might be searching for: peace, security, purpose, guidance, love, maybe even faith and some normality in these lockdown days. As we travel onward, may we be like the Magi, those wise travellers, and have courage to go in search, be open to adventure and not be afraid to take a different way, perhaps a less travelled way, trusting that we are not alone, because God is with us and will light our path.
“I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
“Give me a light, that I may tread safely into the unknown!” And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”
Minnie Louise Haskins
A happy and safe new year to you all.
https://youtu.be/sp52sx2_GYs
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