REMINDER: Today is the seventh day in our journey through the 12 days of Christmas (December 25 – January 5). How have you seen Christmas continuing on despite most folks already looking ahead to St. Patrick’s Day?
Scripture: Matthew 2:1-2
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.”
Thought for the Day: I mentioned on Sunday how the timeline of the Magi’s visit is not what most folks think. In Luke’s Gospel, the story at the manger describes Jesus as brephos, the Greek word for a baby or infant. In Matthew’s Gospel, the Magi arrive to visit the paidion, the Greek word that describes a child approximately two years old. This often overlooked point really messes with many paintings and nativities scenes where shepherds are standing beside the wise men. This is only my imagination, but I’d like to think that news of this child’s birth spread and there were people visiting for many months – people who simply wanted to come and celebrate the hope he represented. I picture Mary being tired of unexpected guests, and had the Magi not brought gifts, she might have turned them away.
Prayer: Provide me opportunities, O Loving Lord, to glimpse your hope for this world. I don’t need much, but a little something on which I can cling. Amen.
BIG SUNDAY
ONLY ONE SERVICE
10:30am
