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
Stay true to your
call!!! Even when your husband or wife gives
you a hard time! Even when your college roommate
thinks you are crazy! Even when your
friends make fun of you! Even when your
co-workers ask why do you bother???
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
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 children - 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!
The hobbit Bilbo
Baggins was about to depart on his Great Adventure– he asked Gandalf: will I return? Gandalf said: I cannot
guarantee it, but if you do return, you will be changed.
When we meet Christ –
it changes everything - how we look at
ourselves – how we look at others - how we look at life – how we act toward one
another – what we say – what we do.
Today we remember the
story of the Magi – they followed a star
– they gave their best – and they went away, changed forever. Sounds like it could be us, too!
