Epiphany 2010, Star Path

1^st Epiphany

He Qi

Matthew 2: 1-12

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea—during the time of King Herod—behold: wise priest-kings from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,

           

“Where is the one born here King of the Jews? We have seen his star rise in the east and have come to worship him.”

           

When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. And he assembled all the high priests and scribes of the people and inquired of them in what place the Christ was to be born.

And they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it was written by the prophet:

And you Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

Are by no means the least among the rulers of Judah;

For out of you shall come forth the ruler

Who will be shepherd over my people, the true Israel.”

Then Herod, secretly calling the Magi together again, inquired from them the exact time when the star had appeared. He directed them to Bethlehem and said, “Go there and search carefully for the child, and when you find him, report to me, that I too may go and bow down before him.”

After they had heard the King, they went on their way, and behold, the star that they had seen rising went before them, and led them in its course over the cities until it stood over the place where the child was.

Seeing the star, they were filled with [there awakened in them] an exceedingly great and holy joy.

Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; they fell down before him and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and offered him their gifts: gold and frankincense and myrrh.

And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their country by another way.

  

Epiphany

January 6, 2010

Matthew 2: 1-12

The three wise priest-kings walked a star path. This path drew them to the right place, at the right time. They brought their treasures to the Christ Child—the gold of their wisdom, the frankincense of their devotion, the myrrh of their capacity to heal. As in the fairy tales, these beneficent beings bestow these heart qualities upon the Child, enlarging His wisdom, adding to His powers of devotion and healing. Strange to think that the Christ Child needed something from human beings.

We too are on our journeys, guided by our life’s star. We may wonder where we are being drawn. We can wonder if the Christ, nascent in humanity, needs anything from us.

He needs the devoted openness of our wonder; the wise compassion of our hearts; our dedication to actions that in some measure bring healing to the world. Through our openness, compassion and deeds of conscience, we offer gifts of great value to Christ. We strengthen His work on and for the earth.

So in the words of John O’ Donohue,

When you travel,

A new silence

Goes with you,

And if you listen,

You will hear

What your heart would

Love to say….

A journey can become a sacred thing:

Make sure, …

To free your heart of ballast

So that the compass of your soul

Might direct you toward

The territories of spirit….

May you travel in an awakened way,

Gathered wisely into your inner ground;

That you may not waste the invitations

Which wait along the way to transform you.[1]

www.thechristiancommunity.org

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[1] John O'Donohue,  “For the Traveler”  (in To Bless the Space Between Us, p.53)