Guiding Light
Matt. 2:1-12
How could a star stop and point to a home?
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'" Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. - Matt. 2:1-12
What would the nativity scene be without the star shining over the manger?
My first thought, when I read that the star moved across the sky, was that it was a comet or a meteor. The scientific mind takes over when I read these ancient interpretations of events like this and the miracles of Jesus.
There has to be a practical explanation, right?
You can tell I am a child of the last century when we all marveled at so many amazing discoveries and breakthroughs.
The fact that these astrologers were looking for signs in the heavens tells me it must have appeared like a star that was something new to them, something they hadn't seen before.
That would have been the sign that something had happened, something worth investigating.
It had to coincide with their expectations in order for them to get up and travel such a great distance to see for themselves what this sign was.
Astrologers from Babylon, Greece, and the Mayan cultures all observed the heavens for signs, and they would have traveled to interpret what the signs meant. They believed this is how the gods spoke to them, through these signs.
So, maybe they would have left home and gone in search of the event that triggered this appearance.
They had been tracking stars and cataloguing their positions for years, so this new start would have been a once in a lifetime (or greater) event.
Whatever it was, it appeared to be a star, and it moved across the sky. Some speculate it was a planetary alignment, but we have no way of knowing exactly what it was.
We know it led them to Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, according to the gospel writer.
The way Matthew tells the story, it is not the star that is of concern, but King Herod, who also believed in such astrological signs. So, even if there was no star in the sky, Herod would have believed the men coming to find the child knew what sign they were following.
I don't know what it was, but I am sure it was something that was different enough to gain their interest, and it was something the average person would not have noticed.
So it is with us.
Our faith guides us with a light we can see because we believe, while others fail to see it, as Jesus said. Those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.
We are guided by the light that shines within us, and through us, we can help others see.
Jesus tells us to be the light, the candle. We can become a star for others.
More to come...