“For We Have Seen His Star”

Meditation on Matthew 2:1-12

Epiphany 2014

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      In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’ When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: “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.” ’

     Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 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.’   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. 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.

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     I always feel a little sad when it is time to put the Christmas decorations away.  
     We put our decorations away earlier than usual this holiday season—on New Year’s Eve—because I had three sons home to help us carry the boxes. Away went our artificial tree, lights, and ornaments. Stuffed animals and needlepoint stockings. Away went our towels and tablecloths.  Cookie tins and Christmas serving trays. And away went several of our many Nativity scenes that we have collected over the years.

    I keep a few of the Nativity scenes out on bookshelves or table tops all year—just as a reminder that Christmas is never really over, though the decorations are packed away.  The Nativities are a reminder that God, who loved the world so much that He became one of us, remains with us and still loves us.

    When I was organizing the Christmas boxes in the basement, I came across a box still wrapped with clear packing tape from our move in 2011.  I recognized my handwriting with the green magic marker label—“Creche.”  This was our Nativity scene that we set up on a white cotton sheet every year when I was growing up. 

   My mother bought the 20 or more painted ceramic figurines one by one from a 5 and dime store in town. She used money she saved up from birthday gifts and babysitting and later, working as a cashier at Woolworth’s.  It took several years before she had the full set of animals, people, angels, and the ceramic star, which hung on the wooden barn through an opening in the roof. 

       It was an honor to set up the Creche.  My older brother and I would fight over it.  He would say I was too little and I would just break it. He always wanted to set up the figurines so that the scene resembled spectators at a sporting event. All the people, animals, and angels surrounded the baby Jesus in a circle; all positioned so they could have the best possible view.  I, on the other hand, carefully placed the figures so that they would tell the beautiful story—the angel appearing to the shepherds, watching their flocks in the fields. And the three wise men—with royal crowns—bearing gifts that looked like treasure chests—coming on their camels, then lining up to see the babe, lying in his ceramic manger.

     When all the figures were in their places, I would plug in the little light bulb that fit through a hole in the back of the barn.

    And the star of Bethlehem would glow, casting soft yellow light over the scene, telling the old, old story, once again.

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    Today is the eve of Epiphany—one of the most cherished and ecumenical feasts of the Christian Church.  Christians around the globe remember and celebrate the story that most Nativity scenes depict—when the three wise men from the East look up into the sky and see the star rising—and know that the Messiah, the long awaited King of the Jews, has been born.

     The three wise men are outsiders.  Foreigners, with different languages, cultures, and religious beliefs.  They are Gentiles, not Jews. They are probably not kings or aristocracy, though most Nativities depict them with royal crowns. They are magi—astrologers, people who read the night sky for celestial message, foretelling future events, and revealing the answers to the mysteries of the universe.

     And God miraculously speaks to these foreigners through the star, which leads them to King Herod in Jerusalem where they boldly ask, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.”

    Herod’s response is fear.  If the Messiah has truly come, then what will become of Herod’s power, his throne, his very life? His fear and cruelty lead him to lies and murder. Herod sends the wise men off to search for the babe—and report back to him when they find him. The wise men, not knowing Herod’s evil intentions, follow the star to Bethlehem and find Jesus and Mary. Their response is not fear but overwhelming joy!  Once they have seen Jesus, they are changed and their lives will not be the same. They cannot return to Herod with the news.  They are warned in a dream to go back to their country a different way.  And they carry the good news with them to those whom God’s people Israel consider outsiders.  They tell everyone that they have seen the star.  That Jesus Christ, the Messiah, is born.

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    Seeing the box marked “Creche” in my basement this week brought back memories of Christmases past. I haven’t spent Christmas with my brother for quite a few years.  We have our own families now and our own ways of celebrating the holiday.   We still talk through cards, occasional phone calls and text messages, and forwarded emails with photos and funny stories.

    The box marked “Creche” hasn’t been opened for years.  The last time I opened it to set it up, I discovered that many of the figurines had not survived the moves we have made.  The paint is faded and chipped.  The animals are missing their ears or legs. The shepherds have lost their crooks. The angels’ gold wings are cracked.

      What was once treasured and fought over has become one more box stored in the basement that I just can’t bring myself to throw away. Of all the Nativities I have ever had, this one, by far, means the most—and not just because it belonged to my mother when she was a child. And that she had to save up her money to buy each figurine, one by one, from the 5 and dime store. It was the one that taught me the beautiful story as I carefully set up the precious painted ceramic figures and the wooden barn. It was where I first saw the star of Bethlehem in my mind, casting a glow of soft yellow light.

   Friends, you, too, have seen the star.  We know that Christ the Lord, the Messiah, has come.  The Good News is for all people, for the entire world. In Christ, no one is an outsider or foreigner.  We are all brothers and sisters in Him.

   And seeing the star, knowing the beautiful story, how will you respond?  I pray that this year you will be like the three wise men—and follow the star more closely.  May you draw nearer to Christ and see Him like you never have before.  

      May you be overwhelmed with joy.

Holy One, thank you for your Son, Jesus Christ, who has reconciled us with you and one another through his suffering work on the cross.  Forgive us for getting caught up in our holiday and family celebrations—or even complaining about the holiday busy-ness.  Help us to be more grateful for what you have done for us and be moved to share your Good News with all the world. Help us to see all people as our brothers and sisters in Christ, as there are no outsiders, no foreigners, in Him.  Draw us nearer to you in 2014 and help us follow you more closely.  Overwhelm us with your joy.  In Christ we pray.  Amen.