The Story of the Wise Men

Matthew 2: 1 - 12 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. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

There's the story. I've read it dozens of times. This reading though, I noticed that the wise men found Jesus at a house, not a stable in a manger. Jesus was probably a toddler by then, based on other parts of the story. The initial hallelujahs sung by the heavenly host were long over. The parents had probably settled into a normal routine with a new baby.

I wonder what Mary and Joseph thought when these strangers came bearing expensive, strange gifts. The wise men were not from the area so they probably were dressed much differently. They were probably wealthy and well educated. Perhaps they were even royalty.

What did Mary and Joseph think when they answered the door to these exotic-looking people? Had things become "normal" again since the amazing period since the angel first appeared to Mary to tell her about the baby she would conceive and deliver? Had the rumblings of the neighbors over this pre-wedding pregnancy subsided? Did the neighbors know who Jesus was? Had they heard the explanation for Mary's pregnancy and dismissed it as foolishness? Did the sudden appearance of these three wise men draw everyone's attention back to the Christ Child?

What draws us back to the Christ Child?

Jesus, Happy Birthday. I hope that the day brings wonderful things to You. I hope that people give You the only gift You want, their hearts. I hope that my heart is acceptable. Any part that I am withholding, please help me to give it up to You. Amen.

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