After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the territory of Judea during the rule of King Herod, magi came from the east to Jerusalem. They asked, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We’ve seen his star in the east, and we’ve come to honor him.” When King Herod heard this, he was troubled, and everyone in Jerusalem was troubled with him. He gathered all the chief priests and the legal experts and asked them where the Christ was to be born. They said, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is what the prophet wrote:
You, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
by no means are you least among the rulers of Judah,
because from you will come one who governs,
who will shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod secretly called for the magi and found out from them the time when the star had first appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you’ve found him, report to me so that I too may go and honor him.” When they heard the king, they went; and look, the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stood over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy. They entered the house and saw the child with Mary his mother. Falling to their knees, they honored him. Then they opened their treasure chests and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Because they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country by another route. (Matthew 2:1-12, CEB)
Herod asked the magi to find the child and come back and tell him where the child was so he could go and pay honor to him. But the magi were warned in a dream not to tell Herod. Herod would take the time of the star rising and then call for the murder of any male child born since then until that day. It is known as the Slaughter of the Innocence and is a high holy day usually observed on December 28.
The magi though visited Mary, Joseph, and Jesus in a house, not a manger, or a stable, or someplace where we assume he was born. The family had been there a while, probably 2 years from the time we see that Herod used for the killing of children.
This was the showing of the messiah to the world, to those who were not part of God’s chosen, but to the whole world. Epiphany is a revealing. A revealing of the love that the creator wanted us all to know. A revealing of the love the creator wanted all of us to embody. And not just for those who thought it was for them, but for everyone.
Love, specifically God’s love is for everyone and we do not get to pick or choose who is included or not. God did that here, with the magi coming from far away to be included in the love that came down and dwelt among us.
Know you are loved and included. And included everyone, because God already made that choice.
Loving People. Loving God.
aSacredRebel 