Matthew 2:9-11

When they had heard the king, they set out, and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen in the east, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

A line from an orthodox hymn used for the celebration of the Nativity of our Lord: “Christ is born! Glorify Him! Christ comes from heaven, meet Him” gives two directions that are really nice ones for daily life. God is with us – give glory to God. Jesus is with us – meet him. Expect to see him daily. How shall we live in such a way that we glorify God and meet Christ every day? Today is the feast of the Epiphany. An epiphany is when something is made plain, clear, an "ah hah" moment when the light dawns. 

What "ah hah" moments have you had? When has God surprised you, transformed you? What causes you to stop in wonder, overwhelmed with joy? Where have you met Jesus? Are the stars you follow leading you where you really want to go and where God wants you to go? A poem by T.S. Elliot provides an interesting perspective, here is the ending of "The Journey of the Magi":

“All this was a long time ago, I remember, 
And I would do it again, but set down 
This set down 
This: were we led all that way for 
Birth or Death? There was a Birth, certainly 
We had evidence and no doubt. I had seen birth and death, 
But had thought they were different; this Birth was 
Hard and bitter agony for us, like Death, our death. 
We returned to our places, these Kingdoms, 
But no longer at ease here, in the old dispensation, 
With an alien people clutching their gods. 
I should be glad of another death.” 

-- Priscilla Hukki, pastor
West Point Trinity UMC-UCC
phukki@greatplainsumc.org

Prayer for Reflection