4th week in Advent -- Monday Matthew 2:10-12
The
Wise Men
Astrologers, of all people! Astrologers were the first foreigners to
visit Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. Whatever
was God thinking? Didn’t God remember
that we are told not to dabble in such things?
And yet the Wise Men -- those
holy men from the East -- have been remembered for the lavish gifts they gave
to the Holy Family, gifts which most likely subsidized the Trio when they fled
to Egypt for protection from Herod’s madness.
Why are the Wise Men so remembered in our Advent/Christmas stories?
The Wise Men were signs of two
things. First, God’s ways can be made
plainly visible even to the “pagans” in our world. Indeed, the whole of creation reflects God’s
glory. Second, the coming of the Messiah
would not just affect Jews, the chosen people.
Even us Gentiles would be welcomed in God’s holiest act of redemption.
So, the Wise Men were there, to
represent us, to give their most precious gifts to Christ. What gifts do we bring to the Manger in our
hearts?
O God:
Like
the little drummer boy, we sometimes feel as if we don’t have a gift good
enough to bring to the Christ Child.
Help us to find within us the gifts you have given us, and then help us
to return them to you with joy, gratitude, and gladness; in the name of Jesus
Christ our Lord we pray. Amen.
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