Matthew 2:1-12 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 2:1-12 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 2In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, Verse 2asking, "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." Verse 3When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; Verse 4and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. Verse 5They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: Verse 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.'" Verse 7Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Verse 8Then 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."
Verse 9When 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. Verse 10When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. Verse 11On 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. Verse 12And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
Devotion
“Horoscopes are for the birds!” With those words my parents mocked the column that appeared in the morning newspaper telling me the kind of day I would have, what dangers or opportunities would present themselves, what decisions should be made or avoided.
My dear wife has nearly sent me careening over the cliffs of patience and sanity recounting in precise detail every nuance of her vivid nighttime visions.
To our astonishment, it is through stars and dreams that God's words and ways are made known. And it is to “birds,” fools and no-accounts like each of us, that Divine wisdom is imparted, if we only possessed eyes to observe, brains to interpret and faith to act. I laugh thinking about God making fools of my parents for their failure to see the wisdom of the daily horoscope. Okay, I'm a buffoon, too, remarkably thick-headed. Yet God doesn't stop trying new ways to get through to me. I am thankful the Almighty is persistent as well as resourceful.
Prayer
Lord, you have made yourself known through stars and dreams, through Balaam's ass and a burning bush. You reveal yourself in your Son and through each one of us. Spirit, open our hearts and our faith in whatever way or by whatever means you choose to come. Amen.