Saddle Up and Move Out!

For 2/3/2013
Do you feel as though you were destined for some kind of role or responsibility in this life? Whether it might be as caregiver, engineer, leader, athlete, parent or some other? What was it that reinforced that feeling? Jeremiah writes about his experience of being identified by God for a specific role:

1:4 This is what God said:

5 “Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you.

Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you:

A prophet to the nations—that’s what I had in mind for you.”

6 But I said, “Hold it, Master God! Look at me. I don’t know anything. I’m only a boy!”

7-8 God told me, “Don’t say, ‘I’m only a boy.’ I’ll tell you where to go and you’ll go there.

I’ll tell you what to say and you’ll say it. Don’t be afraid of a soul.

I’ll be right there, looking after you.” God’s Decree.

The Message Version

This is the story of Jeremiah’s anointing as a prophet some thirty years prior to the exile of the Jew’s of Judah to Babylon. How would you feel if you were in Jeremiah’s place? What words particularly catch your attention?

• How intimately does God know us, do you feel personally formed by God’s hands – God’s handiwork? Do you feel similarly about all human beings? How about all of creation?

• Do you think that God has a plan for us as we are being formed in the womb? How much does God have to do with the path our lives take? Where is God in the paths that evildoers take?

• After God issues this charge to Jeremiah he reacts with the words in verse 6. How would you characterize his response? Are resistance and doubt unusual when considering taking on a responsibility?

• What is the difference between those responsibilities in the church (and elsewhere) you have accepted and those you resisted? What made the difference when you overcame resistance and accepted?

• What would have been your reaction to God’s response in verse 7 if you were Jeremiah? Would you feel confidence, trepidation, or even servile? How did you feel when you overcame your doubts about being able to do something?

• How do you think that the assurance of verse 7 actually works out in real life? How were God’s directions and words transmitted through Jeremiah? Is Jeremiah a robot?

• When have you done something that you felt was done with God’s presence? How did that presence come into play in the actions and words you used?

God revels the nature of the job to Jeremiah:

9-10 God reached out, touched my mouth, and said, “Look! I’ve just put my words in your mouth—hand-delivered!

See what I’ve done? I’ve given you a job to do among nations and governments—a red-letter day! Your job is to pull up and tear down, take apart and demolish,

And then start over, building and planting.”

The Message Version

• The touching in verse 9 might be more substantive as the word touch can be translated strike. Do you know of people who have seemed to have the Lord’s words in their mouths on occasion? What kind of messages did they deliver; assurance, inspiration, warning?

• Jeremiah was to speak words people did not want to hear, unpopular words. Who can you think of who has spoken these kinds of words that really needed to be heard? What were the various reactions? Can you think of messages being spoken today which are unpopular to some but need to be heard – and acted upon?

• What is a red letter day? How important is the work that Jeremiah is called to do?

• What kind of responsibilities does verse 10 tell us Jeremiah will have? God wants both demolition and rebuilding; is one easier than the other? Must demolition many time precede effective building? Can you think of times when this was true? Is it hard to let go, forget, reject? What are some ways that we can be convinced to do this? How might our spiritual lives play into our ability to both successfully tear down and rebuild?

• In the recent past we discussed spiritual gifts which are to come to us on our rebirth as Christians:

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

1 Corinthians 12:4-7

• How do you think that this call to us compares with Jeremiah’s call? What are some similarities and differences? Will confidence in the presence of spiritual gifts help us overcome our inertia, change and build?

Closing Litany

Where can I go from your spirit?

Or where can I flee from your presence?

If I ascend to heaven, you are there;

if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.

If I take the wings of the morning

and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,

even there your hand shall lead me,

and your right hand shall hold me fast.

Amen

Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: Exodus 34:29-35, Psalm 99, 2 Corinthians 3:12 - 4:2, Luke 9:28-36, (37-43)



God's Word Is Better Than A Diamond

For 1/27/2013

One of the questions people have for those who profess a faith in God is about God’s presence; how is our life different because of our spirituality? And it is a question that we should ponder for ourselves, are we really tapping into the power of God’s spirit that is present with us? Psalm 19 is a reflection on that presence and the impact of being in touch with it. It is worth reading and contemplating on – someone might ask us – or we might need reminding ourselves. The psalm begins with some reflections on the presence:

1-2 God's glory is on tour in the skies, God-craft on exhibit across the horizon.

Madame Day holds classes every morning, Professor Night lectures each evening.

3-4 Their words aren't heard, their voices aren't recorded,

But their silence fills the earth: unspoken truth is spoken everywhere.

4-5 God makes a huge dome for the sun—a superdome!

The morning sun's a new husband leaping from his honeymoon bed,

The daybreaking sun an athlete racing to the tape.

6 That's how God's Word vaults across the skies from sunrise to sunset,

Melting ice, scorching deserts, warming hearts to faith.

The Message Version

• How does the psalmist sense God’s glory, what does he cite and what words would you use to describe the nature, the effect and the characteristics of God that you find in his words?

• Madame Day and Professor Night are here to teach us, how do they instruct us? How might silence fill and the unspoken be spoken? Can you relate to a finding a sense of God’s presence in creation, the world that we live in each day? What reminders come to us as we experience the 24 hour cycle if we take time to pay attention?

• One of our reminders is the impact of the sun on our world each day. What image is the psalmist trying to give us of the sun, what is it compared to? How does the sun impact your life, how would you describe it?

• God’s Word or the Torah is compared to the sun, again what characteristics is the psalmist giving to written words? Is Torah passive or active? How do you feel about scripture, has it melted ice, scorched, or warmed your and others faith? What gives scripture power; what makes it alive for you?

The Psalmist gives us more on the value of scripture:

7-9 The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together.

The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road.

The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy.

The directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes.

God's reputation is twenty-four-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee.

The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree.

                                                                       The Message Version
• The psalmist speaks of the revelation, signposts and life-maps of God; where might we find these things? The immediate response might be scripture but what about the word of others, prayer, a spiritual retreat, reading a commentary or even the words of a hymn? Think of a time when you felt that you received support and strength, direction in your life or joy; what was the spark for that experience?

• The psalmist tells us that the directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes, would you agree with him? What do you find to be clear and easy to understand about our faith life? Where did this clarity come from, was it simple logic or something else?

· What does the psalmist say above about God’s reliability?  How would you express your feelings about God’s presence in your faith journey?

• But is everything so very clear after all, do you have questions and search for answers? Where do you turn to receive clarity, will it ever all be clear to us? Paul had some thoughts in 1 Corinthians 13, what are yours:

At present we only see puzzling reflections in a mirror, but one day we shall see face to face. My knowledge now is partial; then it will be whole, like God’s knowledge of me.

More from Psalm 19:

10 God's Word is better than a diamond, better than a diamond set between emeralds.

You'll like it better than strawberries in spring, better than red, ripe strawberries.

11-14 There's more: God's Word warns us of danger and directs us to hidden treasure.

Otherwise how will we find our way? Or know when we play the fool?

Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh!

Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work;

Then I can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin.

                                                                          The Message Version
• What are some analogies he makes for scripture and what images do they make in your mind? Can you make some of your own analogies; how has scripture benefited you on your faith journey? How would you describe it?

• In the last section he speaks of the specific, practical benefits of using scripture to live his life. Are there specific scriptures you feel have impacted the way you live your life, established important values, given you an understanding of what it means to be a person of faith? Take time to contemplate an maybe re-look at them now.

• Do you find God’s presence in scripture? How is your relationship with God sustained and grown through your reading of scripture?

• The search for a stronger bond with God never ends, what are some ways that you might increase your sense of God’s presence during the coming Lenten season?

Closing Prayer

Now into the keeping of God I put

All things of today

All disappointments

Hindrances

Forgotten things

All gladness and beauty

Love

Delight

Achievement

All that people have done for me

All that I have done for them

My work and my prayers

And I commit all the people I love

To His Shepherding

To His healing and restoration

To his calling and making

Through Jesus Christ our Lord

Amen

                                                                                           Margarette Cropper, The Oxford Book of Prayer


Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: Jeremiah 1:4-10, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Luke 4:21-30, Psalm 71:1-6



Watch Out - God's Working On You!

For 1/20/2013


As people of faith we are promised transformation; that we will be changed beginning at our baptism. Paul’s epistles are filled with transformational images and ideas telling us that we are like Christ which is also a statement by Jesus in John’s Gospel, that we will do greater things than he. So let’s look at one promise Paul makes to us in several of his letter thru a focus on today’s Lectionary scripture 1 Corinthians 12:1-11. But to begin let’s get personal:

• There are many gifts that our relationship with God has brought to us. What have you received that you have been able to share with others?

• Think specifically about spiritual gifts, what thoughts come to mind about them?

Paul begins his discussion about spiritual gifts:
12:1-3 What I want to talk about now is the various ways God’s Spirit gets worked into our lives. This is complex and often misunderstood, but I want you to be informed and knowledgeable. Remember how you were when you didn’t know God, led from one phony god to another, never knowing what you were doing, just doing it because everybody else did it? It’s different in this life. God wants us to use our intelligence, to seek to understand as well as we can.   The Message Version

• What does Paul want to talk about? How much have you thought about the Spirit? How does the presence of the Spirit fit into your personal theology? How have you experienced the Spirit’s presence?

• Do you agree with his assessment of learning about the Spirit? What does he urge us to use? What are some ways to gain understanding intelligently?

• Why do you think that he stresses using our intelligence? What should we look out for to insure that we are not living our faith life unintelligently? Can we find ourselves on autopilot?

12:4-7 God’s various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind it all. Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people!      The Message Version

• What is clear about the gifts, where they are manifest and what is the source, what is the purpose of the gifts?

• So what does this mean to you? Do you believe that you have seen people empowered by God to carry out duties, tasks, or responsibilities? Have you seen or heard things that seem to be a gift from God (one of mine is Handel’s Messiah)?

• A key seems to be showing who God is, how does that impact your understanding of a spiritual gift? How would you know that an individual’s gift is the result of the Spirit’s presence?

• What is your reaction to the claim that every one of us has a spiritual gift? How do we go about discerning what our gift(s) might be? Is it important for us to discover what they might be? If so, why?

Paul now gets more specific about gifts both in 1 Corinthians and also another listing from Romans 12:



12:8-11 The variety is wonderful:                             Romans 12:6-8
wise counsel                                                        prophecy, in proportion to faith
clear understanding                                            ministry, in ministering;
simple trust                                                         the teacher, in teaching;
healing the sick                                                  the exhorter, in exhortation;
miraculous acts                                                  the giver, in generosity;
proclamation                                                      the leader, in diligence;
distinguishing between spirits                           the compassionate, in cheerfulness.
Tongues                                                                                                           NRSV
interpretation of tongues.
All these gifts have a common origin, but are handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God. He decides who gets what, and when.                                                                      The Message Version

• Paul probably did not consider his listing of gifts to be comprehensive but they may have been some which he found were present in the Corinthian congregation. His letter to the church in Rome came later with some other ideas. What is your reaction to the lists; do you see breadth and variety?

• Which of these gifts do you think that you have either experienced yourself or feel that you have seen in others? Why do you think that the gift was a manifestation of the Spirit? Have you ever felt that you have been moved by the Spirit to do something you might not have felt equipped to do or use something you were capable of doing in a new way?

• Are there some on this list that you would not expect to be present in a congregation today? Why might they not be present at this time? What gifts would you add to the list?

• How do you feel about the idea of faith healing?  Aimee Semple McPherson was an evangelist and faith healer during the first half of the 20th century. She believed that all of the spiritual gifts were available to believers just as they were described in Acts. Read the story below which tells of her first healing and reflect on your reaction to it.  Are any other gifts that you have questions about?

• Should identifying and using spiritual gifts be something that a faith community should focus upon in its life and programming? What might be done to help people search for and use their spiritual gifts? How might this change the scope and effectiveness of a community’s ministry?

From Sister Aimee by Daniel Mark Epstein - Corona, New York, 1916

She was preaching this text (Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever) one night in Corona when a taxicab pulled up to the door of the Free Gospel Church. Two people got out of the cab quickly and come around to open the curb door for Louise Messnick. You could hardly tell whether Louise Messnick was a little girl or an old lady the way she was scrunched down in the car seat. She looked as if she had passed out with her chin on her chest. But she was wide awake in pain, looking up out of the corner of her eyes through the car window above her head. Louise Messnick was a young woman in the advanced stages of rheumatoid arthritis…

Now the crowd made way for the twisted young woman on crutches… Sister Aimee had just been declaring that Jesus Christ was the same yesterday, today, and forever, with the same power to heal the body and mind, and deliver the gifts of tongues and prophecy via the Holy Ghost, as He showed in ancient times. The crippled Louise Messnick entered like a dramatic challenge to Aimee’s sermon…

Aimee tells us that before his night in Corona she had not discovered the gift of healing. “Indeed very little had been said about this great doctrine at the time.” Yet she had seen her own broken ankle healed in Findlay, Ohio in 1909…

The audience watched Aimee looking at the arthritic woman, as if to say… If He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, why doesn’t He do something about this crippled woman in our midst? Are you just going to stand there and preach?

“Oh Lord,” Aimee cried out in her heart, “you are able to heal her.” And she realized she was going to do something she had never done before. It might disappoint everyone terribly if her instinct failed her. “How I did wish that I could begin with someone who looked a bit more mendable…” she recalled. But it was too late for such considerations. She was already caught up in the process that had begun in Louise Messnick’s body and in the body of the crowd days before…

Sister Aimee had called all these people together in the presence of the Holy Spirit, for the anointing, an infusion of the divine presence. Young and old, rich and poor, man and woman, became a single body. This was her gift as an orator, her charisma, which came from a deep understanding founded upon years of reflection and prayer. The crowd’s body was a healing body like that of Christ, the wounded healer. Now she had a vivid image of Christ’s body which she projected in their midst so powerfully that those who could not literally see it could still feel the Lord’s presence…

She laid her hands upon the woman’s head. As she did this, she felt an energy surge like an electric charge coming up from her heels right through her spine into her tingling fingertips. It seemed, as she closed her eyes, that the charge came from Christ’s image down through the body of the rapt audience and then up through her legs. This was pleasant and soothing, like warm water. It seemed to have an immediate effect upon Louise Messnick’s skin color,,. as well as her temperature. The woman’s cheeks flushed and her heartbeat increased… The hands went up until her arms were nearly straight above her head. Her chin, which had been fastened to her sunken chest so long, it seemed to have grown there, begin to move slightly to the side. Then it straightened again as her neck muscles relaxed… Louis Messnick gazed heavenward, her arms outstretched, and as Aimee held her, she rose to her feet… Louise Messnick walked out of the church that night alone, without her crutches.

The healings present a monstrous obstacle to scientific historiography. If events transpired as newspapers, letters, and testimonials say they did, then Aimee Semple McPherson’s healing ministry was miraculous. Since a miracle by definition is a thing which defies reality, there is no place in scholarly or scientific history for recurrent miracles.

Closing Prayer

O Holy Spirit, whose presence is liberty, grant us that freedom of the Spirit which will not fear to tread in unknown ways, nor be held back by misgivings of ourselves and fear of others. Amen.
                                                                                                          From a prayer by George Appelton, Oxford Book of Prayer

Next Week’s Scriptures: Luke 4:14-21, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a, Psalm 19, Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10



Baptism and the Spirit

For 1/13/2013


Baptism is one of the most significant steps that people take in their faith journey. All of the Gospels include the story of Jesus’ baptism (John’s version however is not crystal clear that Jesus was baptized) so we will look at that event today. But as you read it the real question is what does your baptism mean to you today and also why is it such a very public act?  Today's Lectionary scripture is from Luke 3:

15 The interest of the people by now was building. They were all beginning to wonder, “Could this John be the Messiah?” 16-17 But John intervened: “I’m baptizing you here in the river. The main character in this drama, to whom I’m a mere stagehand, will ignite the kingdom life, a fire, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out. He’s going to clean house—make a clean sweep of your lives. He’ll place everything true in its proper place before God; everything false he’ll put out with the trash to be burned.” 18There was a lot more of this—words that gave strength to the people, words that put heart in them.                        The Message Version

• What kind of a baptism does John promise? Does he seem to downplay it? How about himself, who does he say he is? Does it sound like some kind of a low key event? You can read one persons take on John and Jesus at the bottom on this study.

• What kind of baptism is promised by the one who is coming? Is a model for this kind of baptism in the Pentecost story?  Link to Acts 2:1-21

• What does this kind of baptism mean to you and did you experience some of these dynamics either at the time of your baptism or as you reflect upon your faith journey? Did you feel that it was an act of repentance as well as a spiritual moment?

• What does verse 15 tell us about the people and one of the reasons that John was the source of so much interest? Why do you think so many people flocked into the wilderness to experience his baptism? Do you think that significant numbers of people today might have the same type of feelings and pressures? How might we reach out to fill this need?

• The Jews were living under Roman occupation with the promise of God’s covenant with Abraham seemingly out of reach; what might they hope a Messiah would accomplish? What would the characteristics of this type of person have been? How does this paradigm contribute to the confusion about Jesus?

• How does John characterize the consequences of the coming Messiah in verse 16-17? How do you interpret these words? Is it what the people wanted to hear? Is it what you want to hear? Can you see in them the message of Good News in the Gospel Message? Was John’s prophecy correct?

Back to Luke 2:

21-22 After all the people were baptized, Jesus was baptized. As he was praying, the sky opened up and the Holy Spirit, like a dove descending, came down on him. And along with the Spirit, a voice: “You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life.”    The Message Version

• Why do you think that Jesus participated in the act of baptism? When does the Holy Spirit descend upon him?

• What is Jesus doing after his baptism? Is it unusual to find Jesus praying as we read the gospel story? Why did Jesus pray, he was the son of God? What can prayer bring to our lives, even as we pray for others?

• What happened to Jesus as he prayed? Why did he need the Spirit to descend upon him? Fred Craddock has written: The coming of the Holy Spirit does not make Jesus the Son of God; Luke has told us who Jesus is from the time of the annunciation. The Holy Spirit comes to empower Jesus for his ministry. He will soon be led by the Spirit into the desert (4:1), and then he will return "in the power of the spirit into Galilee"

• Does the idea of Jesus needing empowerment fit with your understanding of who he is?

• Do you think that the Holy Spirit descends upon us and is present with us at some point or is it more episodic? What gives you confidence that the Spirit is present with you?

• What words does Jesus hear after baptism? Do you think that they have any relevance for us as we experienced our own baptism? What meaning might they have for those we love and for those with whom we have conflict?

• How does this story fit into this liturgical season of Epiphany? Was confusion about Jesus’ identity and misguided expectations for him part of the gospel story? Is there confusion and disagreement today, even among Christians, about aspects of the nature of Christ?

Closing Prayer

How we long to be affirmed, O God, to be told we are loved and valued. Strengthen our hearts to hear your voice speaking these words to us. Open our hearts to cling to your all embracing love. Amen.

Next week’s scriptures: John 2:1-11, Isaiah 62:1-5, Psalm 36:5-10, I Corinthians 12:1-11

From FINDING HOPE WHEN ALL AROUND US, THINGS ARE CRUMBLING by Rex A. E. Hunt

Who was John the Baptiser? Scholars speculate that John was a young man, probably in his late 20s - very early 30s. He had spent most of his youth, maybe as many as 14 years or so,

living in the desert wilderness. He was also a young man who was passionate about his cause.

Some might say ‘obsessed’. Others have even hinted ‘jealous’ of his cousin, Jesus.

Storytellers and poets on the other hand, give a bit more colourful picture. Matthew describes him, and in a detail never given to Jesus: “John wore a garment made of camel-hair with a leather belt round his waist, and his food was locusts with wild honey.” Although there is every likelihood the early Christian communities made-up the story dialogue between John and Jesus (in the gospels) their efforts were designed to show that Jesus, and not John, was the more important.

From all we know about his preaching style John strongly claimed that the nearness of the kingdom or realm or empire of God was a judgement to inspire fear (or at least change) in the ‘disobedient’ - the so-called insider. While similar, his preaching style was also in contrast to Jesus’ style, that the nearness of the kingdom or realm or empire of God was an invitation to inspire hope in the ‘ordinary’ - the so-called outsider. Two different visions or dreams by which to renew a hurting nation. So we should not be too surprised when the storyteller we call Matthew has John asking the question of Jesus: Who the heck are you - really?

He (John) comes out of the desert wilderness and starts to call people to take a long, hard look at themselves. For their political situation was such they needed a word of hope. Life could be pretty bleak. Often without hope. Not the message we tend to see on our Christmas cards, is it?

But that’s the political context of the first Christmas story. And while both John and Jesus chose to follow different dreams, both were seeking to transform their world, and bring an end to war and violence, injustice and oppression.



Jesus, Herod and the Band of Scholars

For 1/6/2013


Today's Lectionary Gospel lesson is Matthew 2:1-12 which is a very familiar scripture for Christians.  First let's take a look at some of the actors in the story:

Epiphany Observance. . Epiphany is one of the oldest holy days in Christianity along with Christmas and Easter. Originating in the Eastern Orthodox church is observed in the Protestant church from January 6th through Ash Wednesday. January 6th is twelve days from Christmas.  There are lots of resources for further information on Epiphany but one non-denominational is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany_(holiday)

Epiphany from the Greek epifaneia meaning an appearing, disclosure, manifestation, unveiling brightness. Often used of the glorious manifestation of the gods, and esp. of their coming to help; in the NT the coming of Christ.

Magi (band of scholars) – Many interpretations of just who they were. Some say astrologers, wise men, priests, philosophers or magicians. On any account it was not unusual for foreign regimes to send emissaries to give gifts to new kings or rulers.

Herad the Great – Voted “King of the Jews” by the Roman Senate he ruled Judea for over 30 years. Two things that stand out about him are his ruthless killings of those he considered rivals including his wife and several sons and the major building projects he undertook including the rebuilding of the Jewish temple.

Star – Because Jesus’ birth would have preceded Herod’s death in 4 BCE many have settled on 7 BCE when there was a confluence of Jupiter and Saturn. There were apparently other confluences and the appearance of comets during the years shortly before Herod’s death.

Matthew tells us:

2: 1-2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory— this was during Herod’s kingship—a band of scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around, “Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth. We’re on pilgrimage to worship him.” 3-4 When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was terrified—and not Herod alone, but most of Jerusalem as well. Herod lost no time. He gathered all the high priests and religion scholars in the city together and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?” 5-6 They told him, “Bethlehem, Judah territory. The prophet Micah wrote it plainly: It’s you, Bethlehem, in Judah’s land, no longer bringing up the rear. From you will come the leader who will shepherd-rule my people, my Israel.”  The Message Version

• What was Herod’s reaction to the appearance of the wise men? Who did they tell him they were looking for? The scripture uses the word terrified for Herod and the people’s reaction. What other feelings might Herod have had? Why were the people frightened?

• If the scholars were coming to honor the birth of a king how must they have felt when people had no idea what they were talking about and they found a reaction of fright to what they must have felt was good news? Wouldn’t the people have been excited to hear about the birth of the Messiah?

• The chief priests and scribes gave Herod the information about the birthplace of the Messiah but seem to have no further involvement in the events. Is this surprising? What might you have done if you were alive in those times? What would it have taken to cause a person to take the risks associated with joining the wise men in their search?

• What would your reaction be if you knew Jesus was coming to your house tomorrow? What range of emotions might you have?

7-8 Herod then arranged a secret meeting with the scholars from the East. Pretending to be as devout as they were, he got them to tell him exactly when the birth-announcement star appeared. Then he told them the prophecy about Bethlehem, and said, “Go find this child. Leave no stone unturned. As soon as you find him, send word and I’ll join you at once in your worship.” 9-10 Instructed by the king, they set off. Then the star appeared again, the same star they had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the child. They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time! 11 They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh. 12 In a dream, they were warned not to report back to Herod. So they worked out another route, left the territory without being seen, and returned to their own country.  The Message Version

What reasons might Herod have had for secretly calling for the wise men? Do you think that they bought his story?

How do you visualize the description of the star going and stopping over Jesus’ birthplace happening? What did the wise men find at their destination? Did it fit the perceptions they might have had as they began their journey?

In spite of the very humble circumstances of Jesus birth the wise men worshipped him. What must have happened to cause them to choose to do this?

What does Matthew want us to understand about Jesus from this story? Who recognizes and worship Jesus and who does not? What does the appearance of the magi tell us about Jesus; what does Matthew want us to understand?

What was/is your epiphany?  What contributes to your recognition and worship of Christ despite the lack of historical verification and potential of improbability in so much of the gospel story? What has made Jesus real for you, your epiphany?

Closing Litany

May the Lord bless us and keep us; may the Lord make his face to shine upon us, and be gracious to us; may the Lord lift up his countenance upon us, and give us peace. Amen

Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: Isaiah 43:1-7, Psalm 29, Acts 8:14-17, Luke 3:15-17, 21-22