I had to turn the car around, park, and go take a photo. First in the morning and then another in the evening. These were beautiful nativity scenes that drew me close. The Lord and the craftsmanship and the fleeting last bits of Christmas, barely started getting in the Christmas spirit then boom, it’s over. Christmas day faded so fast, I barely even look at my tree anymore, let alone water it. The Spirit however stays ready to be held again, Jesus in us. Living Water gives REPLENISHMENT OF SPIRIT,  let us pray for a fresh filling. 

I have to say that while driving around (which I do a lot), and when being still too, nothing never brings me closer to anything like when I am approaching the pull of the Spirit. The great awesome Mystery, the Wonder of the Savior, His coming heralded by Star not for show but for direction. That following causes the DRIVE in me, in us, it is SPIRIT-GIVEN for eternity-loving-living. Jesus pulls us close. 

And this sign of a star to the Maji was a draw to begin and continue a LONG journey, for which they knew would be for the birth of the King of the Jews, a ruler to shepherd, a Christ to Save Jews AND Gentiles. So the Star was a guiding light, a source of focus, we would be wise to follow too: “the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.” The Wisemen followed prophesy and we best too. The Wisemen had a long trip to see the baby Jesus, but not as far as Jesus came to come to them and to us.

Jesus would to be killed with the innocents, as foretold by Jeremiah the prophet, except God’s Plan extended His stay for such a mission fulfilling prophecy and Jesus, the lamb already slain to perform this mission, was taken safely away to Egypt and His life preserved and mission reserved. Joseph and Mary followed God’s direction to where to go, save the Savior from Herod’s fear-caused killing spree. Jesus was spared.

The scripture pretold the “how”, the “when”, the “where” and the “why”, and surely Joseph and Mary appreciated how they were to follow directions for returning to the land set aside by God, to readjust their direction (not Judea), find a home (now Nazareth), and begin a life. They had to trust. We best follow the faith placed in us that is shining through our dark nights, guiding us too on God’s Path for us, directing and redirecting to find a home in God, and to begin a life in God. We are God’s Why, for His Love is for us, forever. Let us trust in Him. 

We would be wise to follow too.

Amen 

—

The Wisemen Kings – Matthew 2 – Wise Men from the East

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”

Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”

When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

The Flight into Egypt

Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.”

When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

Massacre of the Innocents

Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:

“A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted,.because they are no more.”

The Home in Nazareth

Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.” Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”