Follow The Star

*If you would like a star word of your own please click HERE. Otherwise there are still some left if you would like a physical star.

Matthew 2:1-12 

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, 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. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

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This morning we have an opportunity to follow in the footsteps of the three magi who are searching for the Christ-child. The Bible doesn't give us much information in regards to their journey, but it would be fair to imagine that their journey was not as smooth as we might think. Even if they were held in high regard from their respective hometowns, the roads and wilderness were prone to many dangers. Yet through it, all the three magi managed to make their way to Bethlehem after following the light of a bright star, which was said to sit over the place of Jesus' birth. And in many ways, we too are still searching, still following the holy star in search of the place where we can find Jesus. 

We all need a star to follow, a star that orients us and points us in the right direction. If we don’t have a marker that we can follow then we might find we’ve wandered into some dangerous pit or some other obstacle. But even if we play it safe that doesn’t mean that we are completely safe. Because if we stay on the established highways and byways there is a chance we will still encounter a rogue Herod who tries to use us in their nefarious quest. Which makes it all the more important that we have something that sheds light on our path. That way when we run into the Herods and other vandals on our quest, we will be able to navigate around them. 

So this year I thought it would be fun for us to try something that might not have done before as a spiritual practice. This year we are going to try something different. This year we are going to attempt to follow a star of our own using a “star word.”. The practice of using a "star word" for reflection and meditation isn't new. It’s a way for us to have something concrete and tangible for us to look at as we discern where it is God will take us in this new year. Your word at first might not seem applicable to your life but sit with it. Spend some time with it. And you might find that it offers a piece of wisdom you would have never expected. 

[Off-Manuscript]

These star words are one of the last gifts this Christmas season. They are a gift in this spiritual practice of listening, praying, discerning, and acting. And like all gifts they can be received in a number of different ways. They can be received with excitement and joy or they can be forgotten about or abandoned. You’re free to do whatever you want with these stars, but I plan on giving you an update every now and then as to how I have spent time with my star word and I hope that others would be willing to share their own insights as well. 

In the alternate reading for this morning we find that are others who are looking for Jesus as well (though they might be an unexpected pair of people). Mary and Joseph are looking for Jesus as Jesus goes off and does his own thing. Whether we relate more with the three magi or Mary and Joseph, the lesson for us is that we need something that guides our path. Because Jesus can be elusive and hide in places where we least expect. Jesus can be in the mundane parts of life, Jesus can be in the place where the poor and the weary lay their head, Jesus can be in the challenging situations that ask us to trust, to have faith, to have courage that sometimes we have to look outside our bubble in order to see the place where God is calling us. 

The three magi who came to look for Jesus must have stepped outside their comfort zone, their own “bubbles” you could say. Mary and Joseph took a step out of their comfort zones as they trusted in the promises of God. So what will we find this year if we are willing to do a little hard work in stepping outside our familiar territory as well? Perhaps we will find something new as we reflect on our star word and let the Holy Spirit guide us on our journey of life and faith. 

How will you let the Holy Spirit lead you this year? Or should I say what will you let your guiding star be this year? It seems like we are in need of something now more than ever. Not just because our planet seems to be literally on fire, but because this is perhaps a decade where we can truly impact the world around us if we set our hearts on the life giving power that comes from God. We can work on healing the created world that we have poisoned, we can help lift up and speak for the poor and the oppressed, and we can do much more, much more, if we travel together following the star that still guides us to this day. So get ready as we head out together. You might want to take some time to nap and rest, which is okay, but this is one thing that we have to do together. And together we will follow the star that guides us and offer the gifts of our hearts, hands, and minds. Amen.