Friday, December 26, 2014

Friday, December 26, 2014



Friday, December 26, 2014

Matthew 2:1-3, 9-11

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.' When King Herod heard this he was perturbed, and so was the whole of Jerusalem. … Having listened to what the king had to say, they set out. And suddenly the star they had seen rising went forward and halted over the place where the child was. 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.

Love’s gift

Isn’t it odd that the one
who fears is the king who
has all the power, not those
who followed the star
to that which bids them
kneel and say, “We are
here for you, even though
we know you are here for us,
come to save us …
from ourselves?”

To the king the child is
threat, to the magi a gift.
Bearing gifts to the one
who is gift, they know
 the child appears that they
may discover what it means
to be human, to give themselves
away, to fall on their knees
in love with the Love
whom Love sends. Kneeling
in dirt and straw where sheep
walk and relieve themselves
doesn’t matter. Who worries
about the mess when love
fills them to the brim?

All that matters is following
whatever star Love sends to
guide you to the place of freedom
where fears disappear and all that
matters is giving yourself to what
love bids you do and be.
Love casts out fear, the Love
by which we are loved and
the love with which we love
what Love gives. This
I know … and always will.

The wise men loved in their
learned way, not emotional
types, but making their way
across deserts and cold what
moved them if not the love to
know, to discover and give
the gifts they carried? It
was love, hunger for union with
the Mystery they sought. 
They knew love must give 
or it is not love and without love 
there is no humanity.

They followed the star seeking
the child that came for them 
that they in love might kneel 
and learn how to be human, 
given to the One Love gives; 
kneeling in the dust they,greater 
than the king, knew no fear
only the love, joy and hope 
Love gives every time we bow 
before Love’s gift.

Pr. David L. Miller



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