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Matthew 2:1-2, 10-11
After Jesus had been
born at Bethlehem in
Judaea during the reign of King Herod, suddenly some wise men came to Jerusalem from
the east asking, 'Where is
the infant king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose and have come to do him
homage.' … The sight of the star
filled them with delight, and going into the house they saw the
child with his mother Mary, and falling to their knees they did him homage.
Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts of
gold and frankincense and myrrh.
Journey of a soul
I bless the journey, O Lord that led them to the place of
joy. I bless all the rocky and smooth places of life and earth my feet have
trod for they have led me here … to know the joy you intend.
The Magi’s journey is mine. Theirs is the human journey to find
and know what fills the soul, to know you as Presence in our souls--and not
there alone, but to know the wonder of heaven’s glory on the face of our messy
earth.
They were looking, which distinguishes them from the great
mass of humanity. Maybe they were privileged, free from the drudgery of
exhausting work and thus able to watch the stars and wonder about what it all
means.
They are so different from so many of their age … and ours.
Caught up in work or pleasurable diversions, we fail to look at the sky … or
into our souls …to wonder and ask what our lives are for. We lose our souls in
the whirlwind of living.
It is for this hunger to know, to connect with their soul’s
delight that I honor them. It is this that makes them icons of our humanity,
symbols of the soul’s journey home … where … in union with the Love who made us
… we know where we came from … where we are going … and who we are.
They followed the star with joy believing the end of their
search--and the fullness of their life--was near. Coming to the manger, they
looked on the human face of God, and their soul took flight in their flesh.
Witnessing the union of flesh and Spirit, they were stirred to life by the
Spirit within their own flesh.
We do not look to the stars as they did, but there are
sparkling stars on our journeys, too, sparkling Christmas angels, messengers of
the One who is Love, sent to lead us home. Follow them with joy and great hope.
And bless every rocky and smooth place of your journey. They are leading you to
joy.
Pr. David L. Miller
