"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 we have come to pay him homage."" (Matthew 2:1-2 NRSV)
In recent days, across much of the United States, fireballs
have been sighted crossing the skies. For many it has been something of a
concern, for others it has been a novelty, yet for all of us these 'fireballs'
(meteors) are an ongoing reminder that we are a part of a cosmic community, a
vibrant and fast moving universe. We are susceptible to, and affected by both,
energy and gravity, pushing us on to greater things while wearing away our
outer nature with the frictional heat of resistance.
The star which the wise men observed at its rising called
them toward the Gift which it announced yet, as they were moved by its' energy,
they met the heat of resistance in the person of Herod and the politics of
government and religion, alike. The wise men were not themselves encumbered
with the fear others displayed, but that fear bore down on them in their quest
to reach the one, ". . who has been born king of the Jews . . .". They
became as 'fireballs' in the land of Israel, in the Roman empire, and many were
wondering what foreboding the wise men announced in their pilgrimage. Some were
committed to destroying the One they sought - and followed their trail across
the skies to the village of Bethlehem, killing all the children under the age
of two, according to when the wise men said they first saw the star. Others
were not sure what to think of this news the wise men brought, but all the
world was affected, all the world was to be transformed . . . not by the wise
men, no, they were just the fireballs, the messengers. Rather, the world has
been forever transformed by the One who comes, of whom angels sing and over
whom stars still brightly shine. The cosmic community, the vibrant and fast
moving universe, will never be the same - regardless of how we lash out at it
or put our foot down in resistance. The more we object, the more His love
shines brightly, and our outer nature is worn down with the frictional heat of
Grace and Mercy. Not even Herod could impede God's Vision. Not even Rome could
darken His brightness . . . and to this Jesus the nations still turn.
The wise ones among us still move towards His Presence.
Regardless the challenges, regardless the hatred, regardless
the fear, the wise ones among us still move towards Jesus and, in moving
towards Jesus, are found to be feeding the hungry, giving a cup of water to the
thirsty, clothing the naked, welcoming the stranger, caring for the sick and
visiting the imprisoned. The transformed among us, themselves, become as
fireballs announcing a new reign of justice, witnessing to a cosmic community
of equity, testifying to a vibrant and fast moving mercy, all of which is begun
first and will continue forever in God. The wise ones are not the Announcement,
any more than the star, itself, was the Good News. They are the ones who point
to the nearing Kingdom - and how others receive that news will greatly vary,
depending on their need, their circumstance, their insecurities, their power or
their authority, which speaks volumes of why the shepherds rejoiced in His
birth and Herod sought to kill Him. Nonetheless, Jesus is born . . .
Have you seen? Have you heard? Are you moving towards Him?
Are you moving away? Are you in fear? Are you transformed? Has His light
brought you Good News? I pray in this New Year you receive Him with Joy in your
heart and Love in your soul. I pray you become a fireball for Christ. There is
no greater call for any of us. A Blessed New Year to all!
No comments:
Post a Comment