In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, magi from the east came to Jerusalem,  asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star in the east and have come to pay him homage.” Matthew 2:1-2

The Magi will travel some nine hundred miles, following that single star by night. Starting in Jerusalem, the logical place for a new king to be born, they begin their search. Eventually it will take them to Herod, who along with all of Jerusalem, is troubled by their visit and talk of a newborn king. 

Jerusalem’s scholars report, prophets spoke of Bethlehem, as the place of a king’s birth. If at times, the star had seemed hidden, the Magi find it now leads them directly to the child Jesus,  hovering over his home. 

Arrival of Magi in Bethlehem, must have created no small amount of stir. Who were these people and what did they want in Bethlehem?    As Matthew takes us through the visit we learn of a star, that has guided them. Scholars believe these visitors had access to a vast library, of the ancient world. Once having spotted the star, they searched until they learned of a king to be born in Israel.

There they meet a much surprised family. One that neither expected these foreign visitors, or even more so, the generosity of their gifts. I suspect Mary and Joseph receive their guests with pride and joy, along with some fear. For what does one do in the presence of Magi?

I wonder about the holiness of that sacred moment. Were the Magi touched by the presence of God? Was there something about Jesus that moved their hearts in a new and holy way?  I’d like to think, that at least  one of the Magi took Jesus into their arms, and said a blessing over him?

Warned in a dream, we learn the Magi return home another way. What pondering did they do as they left behind both their gifts and the encounter. What stories would they  later tell of their journey and the child they found? Did seeing the Christ child change the Magi, at the deepest center of their being?

The encounter with Christ ought to change us in some way. Encountering the Christ should cause us to rethink our life.  The trip to Bethlehem is a time of resetting and reimagining our life.  It is a time of asking  where God might be calling us,  in the  next phase of our journey.  Even as the magi return home in another way, are we also called to find a different way home?

Daily Devotions and other Christmas resources can be found at this Link – Devotions for Advent to Epiphany