We have now entered the season of Epiphany. The season begins with our celebrating the coming the Kings (Wise Men) to see the Christ child. They bring with them their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. For many of us, we grew up with the vision of the Kings arriving at the same time as the shepherds. Our crèche scenes have everyone gathered around the baby Jesus in the manger. According to the Gospel of Matthew, the truth appears to be quite different. Yes, the star appeared in the sky with the birth of Jesus, but it would take the Kings years to find him. It was a long and difficult journey. Jesus would have been a young boy living with his parents in Nazareth when they arrived. We tend to collapse the time when we tell the Christmas story because we love the image of everyone around the manger proclaiming the truth that Jesus came to save everyone, both shepherds and kings. The wonderful truth is that Jesus is the savior of the world.
I love that image, but I also love the image of the Kings traveling for years to find Jesus. Their willingness to continue to search, persevere, and wait in hope. We live in times when we want instant answers and instant gratification. I love the idea of people holding on to a hope (the sign of the star) and being willing to commit themselves to holding on to that hope and to following wherever that hope (that star) takes them. In our times, we tend to be impatient. We cannot wait. We count the cost. We will stop before the journey's end and declare our hope was in vain. My prayer is that we embrace the faithfulness of the Kings. I prayer that we be willing to live and serve in hope. I prayer that we be willing to follow stars, no matter what the journey, trusting that God leads the way and we will arrive where we need to be.
I love that image, but I also love the image of the Kings traveling for years to find Jesus. Their willingness to continue to search, persevere, and wait in hope. We live in times when we want instant answers and instant gratification. I love the idea of people holding on to a hope (the sign of the star) and being willing to commit themselves to holding on to that hope and to following wherever that hope (that star) takes them. In our times, we tend to be impatient. We cannot wait. We count the cost. We will stop before the journey's end and declare our hope was in vain. My prayer is that we embrace the faithfulness of the Kings. I prayer that we be willing to live and serve in hope. I prayer that we be willing to follow stars, no matter what the journey, trusting that God leads the way and we will arrive where we need to be.
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