king of the Jews? We saw the rising of his star in the East and have come to honor him.”
When Herod heard this he was greatly disturbed, and with him all Jerusalem. He
immediately called a meeting of all high-ranking priests and teachers of the law, and asked them
where the Messiah was to be born. “In the town of Bethlehem in Judea,” they told him, “for this is
what the prophet wrote: And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, you are by no
means the least among the clans of Judah, for from you will come a leader, one who is to
shepherd my people Israel.” Then Herod secretly called the wise men and asked them the
precise time the star appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem with these instructions, “Go
and get accurate information about the child. As soon as you have found him, report to me,
so that I, too, may go and honor him.”
After the meeting with the king, they set out. The star that they had seen in the East went
ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. The wise men were
overjoyed on seeing the star again. They went into the house, and when they saw the child
with Mary his mother, they knelt and worshiped him. They opened their bags and offered him
their gifts of gold, incense and myrrh.
In a dream they were warned not to go back to Herod, so they returned to their home country
by another way.
READ: Isaiah speaks of nations, people young and old, drawing near to God. Paul assures
the Ephesians that all who believe in Christ are welcome in God’s kingdom. Matthew describes
wise men from the East who come to Jerusalem looking for a king, finding that king in Jesus.
REFLECT: Jesus draws people to himself and to his Father. He became human and died on
the cross to destroy death and bring us to live with God forever. After his birth, Jesus drew the
shepherds and wise men to himself. Later he would call his apostles, gather the crowds, and
reach out to those on the margins of society – the sick, the disabled, the poor, the sinner.
In our response to his call to draw near we can learn from the wise men in Matthew’s Gospel.
They laid their gifts at Jesus’ feet and, changed by this encounter, went home by another way.
We can place our gifts at the service of God’s people and live in a new way – a life of welcoming,
service, and generosity.
PRAY: Lord, help me open my heart to your call to grow closer to you and to serve my brothers
and sisters.
ACT: Give thanks to God for the gifts he has given you and return them tohim in generous
service.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2022