They are known today
as Caspar – Balthasar – Melchior: the
Magi from the East.
Asia – Africa - Europe Young – middle age - old
Scripture tells
us -
they followed a star.
At the end of their
journey, they found Christ!
1) If we could interview the magi and ask them
– why did you do this, why journey and follow a star? -
perhaps they would say - we
were called
Carl Sagan once said
that we are all made of star stuff – all matter comes from the furnace of
stars.
But – that is ALL he
would say.
The Christian would
say more – we are infused with the gift of a soul.
Soul tells us – there
is a purpose to our existence
Each person here has
a purpose – a call
As we journey through
life – we come to a deeper understanding of that call.
The Hobbitt - Bilbo
Baggins - he wanted to stay in hole in
ground in his comfortable chair – but he was called on an unexpected Journey. What is our call? – do we have the courage
to follow it?
2) They came bearing gifts:
Melchior - Gold – for
a king a kingly gift!
Balthasar –
Frankincense – from the Boswellia Tree -
worth the same as gold - Incense – prayers up to heaven – for divinity
Caspar – Myrrh –
Mysterious - From Cammiphora tree. Can be used as incense – also used in
anointing a dead body. Worth 7X more than gold. For the sacrifice INRI
They gave their
absolute best!
My parents were very
good in this – not so much the grade – did you do your best?
Give our best – to our
marriages – our parents – our families – work – school???
The question is – not
the grade, but did you give your best?
3) The Magi went back another way.
Did not trust Herod
and rightly so - but also
It is hard to
encounter the baby and not want to go a different way
Could not go back to
the old ways!
Gandalf asked by
Bilbo Baggins – will I return? I cannot guarantee it, but if you do return, you
will be changed.
They meet Christ – it
changes everything - how we look at
ourselves – how we look at others - how we look at life!
Scripture says – they
followed a star – they gave their best – and they went away, changed forever.
Might the same be said of us!!!
