Abbey Christmas: Joy Week 1 Day 1

Day 1: Joy - Wisemen 

Text: Matthew 2:10

The first explosion of joy in the Christmas stories comes from the magi, or the ’wisemen from the East.’  Matthew 2:10 says, “When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.” To “rejoice exceedingly with great joy” sounds like a lot of joy.

It’s fascinating that the magi are even included in Jesus’ birth narrative.  They don’t belong. They are odd characters that don’t fit in any real way.

First of all, they were racially outsiders.  Despite the children’s story that typically only pictures 3 Wisemen, scholars believe this could have been a group of up to 50 people traveling all the way from Babylon or Persia (which would have been an 800-mile walk!).  The nation of Babylon was an unhealed bruise in the collective memory of Israel. It was only a few centuries before this moment that the people of Israel had been invaded, captured, and deported to this foreign, pagan land.  “Babylon” haunted their identity and had connotations of slavery, torture, and misery. And here is a large group of Babylonians that has shown up looking for Jesus.

Secondly, the magi were spiritually outsiders.  Magi were scholars of the stars, people that merged astrology and astronomy to make sense of the world.  To be sure, Israel would have seen the magi as utterly idolatrous; they taught people to look to the creation for answers, not the Creator.

And yet, here they are searching for Christ.  Outsiders. Unwanted guests. ‘Foreigners.’

I think that tells you that everyone is included in what God is up to.  God is breaking into the world to make all things new and everyone receives an invitation.  It doesn’t matter who you are, where you’re from, how many degrees you have, how much money you have, or how much you have sinned.  There is no VIP, no exclusive group of special people that get extra access. Everyone is invited.

How do you accept this invitation?  Simply behold and receive.


Reflection

Morning Pause:  What do you think makes you an outsider to God?

Afternoon Pause:  In your mind, who do you think is disqualified from the grace of God?  How does this story challenge that?

Evening Pause:  How might this story change the way that you see people that are different from you?