"And look: The star, which they saw at its rising, preceded them until it came to the place where the child was and stood still above it. And, seeing the star, they were exultantly joyful. And, entering the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary and, falling down, made obeisance to him; and, opening their treasure caskets, they proffered him gifts: gold and frankincense and myrrh."
Matthew 2, 9-10. The New Testament, A Translation by David Bentley Hart
The season of anticipation turned to the celebration of the birth, and has now arrived at that moment of recognition, of understanding, of the significance of the light that has led us here. After our own long journeys through the preoccupation of the holidays, are we still exultantly joyful at seeing the star? Do we fall down in obeisance, or exhaustion? Do we have any gifts left for the child?
In my own life this has played out in many different ways, from the Magi, the Star, Herod, and the flight into Egypt conflated into the celebration and pageantry of the season (true confession, my 12-year-old portrayal of Balthazar in a living nativity was done in blackface, and I thought it was cool at the time) to a growing awareness of the complexity, and tragedy, of the story. Celestial manifestation, news of a new King brought by highly respected envoys, shocking the old King, fulfillment of prophecy, subterfuge, worship, divine warnings, flight, and slaughter of innocent children. I grew up the son of an Astronomer, and I've always loved his interpretation of the story. I'll include a link to his 1982 presentation of The Christmas Star below. Listening to it again this year I've been reminded that, like the seasons coming back to this point each year, the story returns in our lives as well if we look for it, and that we too can be exultantly joyful when we find it.
Prayer-
Dear God, help us shine with your love in our hearts for all the world to see and share. Amen.
Christmas Star Dr J W Northrip 1982 Click here if the video doesn't appear below.
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