Matthew 2:1-12:
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.” Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.” After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.
Blog:
We are all gifted with a past, a present, and a future. The Magi from the East knew this well – it’s one of the reasons “why” they traveled for months to see the Newborn King (who was promised in the Scriptures and the skies above them). It is believed that the Magi here were descendants of the Prophet Daniel who had decided to stay in the East and establish a Davidic Seminary there even after many Jews had returned home to Jerusalem (after the Babylonian exile). The Magi here would have known the history (the past) of the Jewish nation, as well as its present. But assuming that they were Disciples of Daniel, they would have also known the Messianic Prophesies for the future King of Israel Whose Kingdom would last on into Eternity. The same past, present, and future that drove them literally to Bethlehem is the same past, present, and future that drove Mary and Joseph to Joseph’s (and King David’s) hometown, too. Again, we all have pasts, presents, and futures. We, too, are being “Driven” by the Lord based on both His past, present, and future and our own pasts, presents, and futures. The Power of the Infinite Holy Spirit uses the same Spiritual Network (our Souls) through each and every one of us throughout His-story to bring us, too, to Bethlehem. For many of us, our pasts aren’t laced with “Goodness”. Our pasts are never “Perfect”. But, just like the Prophets, Apostles, and Disciples of “old”, we must allow the Holy Spirit to leverage our pasts to help move us forward through our presents and into our Futures – an Eternity with God in Heaven. We all see the Signs like the Magi and our Holy Family did. The Journey wasn’t easy for any of them and It promises to be difficult for us, as well. But the Destination brings about an Eternal Encounter with Jesus and that makes any Journey worth it.
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