6 January 2019 - star men

Today's Readings

(Audio)

It was not made known to people in other generations 
as it has now been revealed
to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: 
that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body,
and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

The promise given to Abraham was that all the nations on earth would find blessing in him. The psalmist sang, "every nation on earth will adore you." But only with the star rising over the manger did the fulfillment of these promises and prophecies begin.

[B]ehold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 
"Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.

The magi were representatives of the Gentile nations, finally welcomed into the full worship of the God of Israel. No longer were they required to remain in the outer courts of the temple. Rather, Mary, the new sanctuary, invited them in. They worshipped God directly, face to face.

They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures 
and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

We must walk the path of the magi, into the presence of Mary and Joseph, in order to offer the gifts we have been given back to Jesus, the King of kings, who first gave them to us.  What drew the Magi to make such a journey? They longed for the light shining in the darkness.

Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem!  Your light has come,
the glory of the Lord shines upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth,
and thick clouds cover the peoples;
but upon you the LORD shines,
and over you appears his glory.

The magi were wise. They were wise enough to recognize the limits of their own wisdom and to seek the source of light itself. Finding it, they offered all that they were. We should long for the time when all of the nations walk by his light, as Isaiah foretold. We do our part to bring about that time of fulfillment when we allow our encounter with Jesus to change us. We don't simply add Jesus to our previous systems of philosophy and religion. No, we allow ourselves to be re-centered on him. We, like the magi, must return by another way.

And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, 
they departed for their country by another way.