Wise men came from the east to worship
At this time of year, many wise ones come following the star that rises in the east, referring to the sun (earth's own star).
According to Matthew 2:1-2, ‘Magi came from the east’ after seeing ‘a star in the east’.
This gives me cause to wonder if we have understood this correctly. If the star appeared in the east (as all stars do), would they not have been travelling east, i.e. from the west? Does it matter? I am not sure how much for the story, perhaps it could matter to us – here on the east coast.
At this time of year, many wise ones come following the star that rises in the east, referring to the sun (earth’s own star). They come bearing gifts and go to beaches and other ‘palaces’ of pleasure.
They hope in this way to get away from daily struggles and effort to find a moment of rest in the glare of the sun. Could it be that what they seek will not be found in the palaces of pleasure but in a stable in a little town along the East Coast?
Could this stable be a little struggling Christian church somewhere in a small town where few would expect to find anything worthwhile?
The wise will keep looking, even in unexpected places. I therefore encourage the small struggling churches along the East Coast please be open when the wise come looking.
What I mean by open is – let there be someone who, like Mary, listens and trusts the message from God. In this way, it may just happen that Christ breaks into the world and is named ‘Immanuel’ God with us. May the wise find the rest they are searching for and return to their own place forever changed.
Blessings and love.
Rev Casper de Villiers
Shelly Beach Methodist Church
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