3 When King Herod heard of this he became very agitated, and so did everyone else in Yerushalayim. 4 He called together all the head cohanim and Torah-teachers of the people and asked them, “Where will the Messiah be born?” 5 “In Beit-Lechem of Y’hudah,” they replied, “because the prophet wrote,
6 ‘And you, Beit-Lechem in the land of Y’hudah,
are by no means the least among the rulers of Y’hudah;
for from you will come a Ruler
who will shepherd my people Isra’el.’”[Matthew 2:6 Micah 5:1(2)]
7 Herod summoned the Magi to meet with him privately and asked them exactly when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Beit-Lechem with these instructions: “Search carefully for the child; and when you find him, let me know, so that I too may go and worship him.”
9 After they had listened to the king, they went away; and the star which they had seen in the east went in front of them until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 Upon entering the house, they saw the child with his mother Miryam; and they prostrated themselves and worshipped him. Then they opened their bags and presented him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 But they had been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, so they took another route back to their own country.
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An "aha moment" is when we do not realize that something very special or very surprising is about to take place, and when it does, we suddenly declare, "I didn't see that coming," or "I didn't know that was going to happen!"Matthew tells the story of an exciting "aha-moment." When the wise men find the baby Jesus in the manger at Bethlehem, they fall to their knees and worship the baby Jesus. Even more than their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, what is special for them is the appearance (the epiphany) of the Star in the East--it would lead them to the infant Jesus and then beyond in faith to all that Jesus would accomplish in his life and ministry. As we worship the Christ child this Epiphany and beyond, we too can find a greater sense of what Jesus wants to do as he shows us the direction of his mission. He must move toward brutal rejection, toward dying on the cross, and to the ultimate victory of the resurrection. May we discover anew this year how Jesus through his Spirit yearns to deepen our love toward him so we can extend that love to other people who have never experienced finding the love, joy, and peace that only he can give.
Blessed Savior, in the manger of Bethlehem we find the peaceful Child born to give us new life. Because of your life, death, and resurrection, we find that new life coming to fulfillment in discovery of the new paths of life, love, joy, and peace made available only through the life you share with all who will reach out to you. Fill us with yourself so that those who see us may see you within each of us. Amen.
David Walle
Hosanna Lutheran Church, Rochester, Minn.
Master of Divinity , 1980
Matthew 2:1 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,
2 asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage."
3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him;
4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.
5 They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
6 "And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.' "
7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared.
8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage."
9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was.
10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.
11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.[New Revised Standard Version]
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