About this time, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem,
saying, “Where is he who is born King of the Jews? We saw his star in the east,
and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this, he was troubled, and
all Jerusalem with him. Gathering together the chief priests and scribes, he
asked them where the Messiah would be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of
Judea, for this is written through the prophet,
‘You Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are in no way least among the princes of Judah:
for out of you shall come a governor,
who shall shepherd my people, Israel.’”
Herod secretly called the wise men, and learned from them
exactly what time the star appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go
and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, so
that I also may come and worship him.”
Having heard the king, they went on their way, and the star,
which they had seen in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over
where the young child was. They rejoiced with exceedingly great joy, and came
into the house where they saw the young child with Mary, his mother. They fell
down and worshiped him, offering gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Being
warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their country
another way.
For Reflection
The Magi,
from an area called Persia in the ancient world and Iran today, were neither
wise men nor kings, but astrologers who looked to the stars for insight on what
was happening in the world.
How
remarkable that people from a foreign land and different religion would seek Jesus
and those from his own would not. How comfortable are you with people of other
religions? Do you see them as part of God’s story?
Prayer: Keep me from imagining, Lord, that
my grasp of you is inherently superior to that of those whose religion is
different than mine.
No comments:
Post a Comment