Pioneering: Meditations for Our Transformation
Carlisle United Methodist Church
Number
14 December 23, 2012
Christ
Comes
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in
Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and
asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star
when it rose and have come to worship him.”
When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with
him. When he had called together all the
people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah
was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,”
they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: “‘But you, Bethlehem,
in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out
of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod called the Magi secretly and
found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and
search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that
I too may go and worship him.” After
they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen
when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child
was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child
with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Matthew
2:1-10.
What
does this passage say to us about our transformation journey? How do the experiences of the Magi mirror our
own on our wilderness travels? I’d love
to know what you think.
Here’s
what I think we have in common with the Magi.
Because
of their steadfast observations night after night, and their keen sense of what
was ‘normal’ in the universe, the Magi discovered an auspicious and completely
unexpected event in the night skies that pointed to the land of Judea.
Their
knowledge came from years devoted to observation and comparing notes, sharing
their sightings, perhaps honing their abilities to predict the future positions
of the moon, stars and planets, and their rising and setting. To be a Magi, one had to devote one’s life to
observing and recording a regularly changing universe.
Magi
were also well-read, poring over scrolls and tablets, looking for what others
observed in the preceding years, and perhaps centuries. These writings were not just of the sky, but
of history and prophecy.
What they
observed over many nights led them to believe that a new king was coming. Looking at writings and the position or the
motion of the star, they surmised that Judea was the place for this royal
birth. And these Magi agreed that they
would travel a great distance to witness and worship.
But
when they arrived in Jerusalem, no one knew what they were talking about. Herod the King and the entire city were greatly
disturbed. Rather than dismiss this as
some foolish prank, Herod called in the religious authorities and questioned
them about this Messiah.
A
scribe found a passage that the town of Bethlehem was the place prophesied to
be the birthplace of the Messiah of Israel.
Consider
the situation with the Magi. They
started out expecting to find a king, based on their assumptions about royal
matters. They were looking for a palace
and the celebration of a royal birth.
Not finding a future king as they expected may have disappointed them,
but they not deterred.
Why
did they not turn back? I believe it was
those prophetic words of scripture, more than King Herod’s commission that encouraged
the Magi to resume their search. And their
determination was rewarded when the star reappeared.
In
the final stages of their journey, the Magi became open to radically new
possibilities. So when they arrived at
the house in Bethlehem where the Holy Family resided, they were convinced
beyond a doubt that this was the king the star and the prophecy had lead them
to find and worship.
How
is it with us? What were we expecting
when we began this wilderness journey many months ago with hardly anything more
than a dream to guide us? Did we expect to
find something that matched our experiences, something that looked and felt
like what we had been used to for the years before? Wouldn’t we have assumed the same as the Magi?
Christmas
2012 marks the last Christmas in our three houses of worship. There are traditions to end, traditions to keep,
and traditions to start. We will
celebrate next Christmas in our transitional home; much like the Israelites
celebrated the second Passover around the tabernacle in the desert, and not the
Temple in Jerusalem.
But
in the absolutely most important way, each Christmas is the same celebration of
Christ’s coming. Regardless of the
language, litany, music, formality, or Christian heritage, the Son of God who came
to us in Bethlehem is the same Christ yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
When
they started their long journey, the Magi were looking for an entire kingdom
celebrating the birth of a royal heir.
They
found far more than they were looking for, far more than they ever expected. They discovered the turning point of all
history – the Christ Child, the Messiah.
We
began our journey almost two years ago without even a star, but with each of us
having a piece of a vision that meant different things to each of us because of
our life experiences, our training, our upbringing, and our expectations. Having a church name (that blessed baby’s
name) is like the appearance of the star.
And the passage of scripture that joins our little pieces of vision
together into The Vision is from Jeremiah:
For
I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and
not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to
me, and I will listen to you. You
will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
(Jeremiah 29:11-13)
God wants
us to succeed and prosper on our journey.
And that is why, to open hearts and thirsting souls, God sends us the gift
of hope with this promise: that, against all fears, Christ comes.
A very blessed Christmas to all!!
Common Prayer. O Jesus Christ, come into my heart and
capture me forever. AMEN.
To think about: How does Christ come to me? Why does Christ come to me? How can I share Christ?
Transformation
Team emphasis for the next two weeks:
The
year before us; implementing the Plan of Union; the focus groups starting up.
Please address your feedback and
comments to Charles L. Reynolds at papoo99@comcast.net. Or
you can reach me by mail at 5 Bayberry Rd, Carlisle PA 17013. I’d really like to hear from you!
