They Stopped To Look At A Star

From Rev Sue Ann Yarbrough

​Scripture: Matthew 2:10-12 
" When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 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. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road."

I really love the time from Christmas Day to Epiphany (January 6). Sister Joan Chittister wrote that some think that Christmas Day is the destination. However, she explained, it really is just the beginning of the journey.  To squeeze Christmastide into one day does not give us time to ponder the mystery and grow into the fullness of this time. Christmas is not about keeping an efficient schedule. It is about taking the much time to deepen our prayers. ​

Epiphany celebrates the arrival of the Magi. It celebrates that, thanks to dreams and a star to follow, the Magi could ignore the fearful tyrant Herod, thwarting his plans to destroy the infant Jesus.  The Magi simply chose to continue to follow the star and find the child. They did not return to Herod, but went home another way. ​

We know there are still  many Herods in our world. Sometimes even our own egos can be that tyrannical. Yet, we can take in  the story of Christmas, and hopefully learn to trust that Emmanuel, God is With Us, is still guiding us on paths of love and understanding that lead us into new ways of being in this world. We need not be afraid.  Like the Magi, we can follow our star. ​

Blessings to you all in this time, and always.   

Prayer  
Holy One, we thank you that you continue to guide us in our journey. Help us to trust your guidance. Help us to be like the Magi who were seeking the sacredness of Christ who is continually being born into this world.

Give us the confidence of both the Magi and of Jesus, to trust our paths. Help us to remember the words in Luke 2:9, that Jesus' birth is good news for all people. 

​We pray that we of all faiths, and those who profess to have no faith, remember that we are called to break away from tyranny, and go in the direction of love, dignity, and respect for all people.  

In such love we pray, 
Amen

Photo by Monstera from Pexels

Rev. Sue Ann Yarbrough, Associate Pastor
San Lorenzo Community Church, United Church of Christ
SpiritCare Ministry to Seniors 
510-579-1298  cell phone
 
www.slzchurch.org 
www.hearthpsalms.blogspot.com