January 4, 2009

"We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives...not looking for flaws, but for potential." -- Ellen Goodman

20-C-M-B-09

This weekend we celebrate the coming of the Magi to Bethlehem, bringing gifts for the infant Jesus. The gospel says they came from the East--in this case, Persia which is now Iran. The Magi were a separate group who observed the order of the universe-- the rhythm of the planets, moons and stars. When something was out of the order, they felt it was a sign that something unusual was happening. The tradition that there were three of them came from the three gifts they brought. Later legend made them kings and named them Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar. The gifts were symbolic of Jesus and his work. Gold was the proper gift for a king; frankincense a gift for a priest; and myrrh which was used to embalm the bodies of the dead.

The light of the star is another symbolic message. We call 'Christ our Light' at Easter because we look to him to guide our lives. In the midst of the terror and death in our world, we must continue to be the light of God's love and care for all people -- here in our community and wherever we go. This is part of Matthew's gospel, and we always have to remember he is writing to his fellow Jews who have decided to be followers of Christ. Matthew includes the Gentile (non-Jew) Magi as the example that Jesus came for all people. All human beigns of every time and place, every tongue and race are being called by God and to salvation.