Matthew 2:1-12 - What gift do you bring with you?

Matthew 2:1-12 - What do you bring with you?
This morning’s sermon is a simple one. Let us compare and contrast the attitudes of the Magi - or Wise Men-- and King Herod toward Jesus, and in so doing, consider our own attitudes towards others. Herod believed in the news about Jesus birth. How did he react? Along with the scribes and the pharisees. The Wise Men believed in the news about Jesus, How did they react? they wanted to adore Jesus, offer him gifts, well-being, and love. When Herod set out to find Jesus, what was his intention? [In order to ensure the death of Jesus, he sent his men to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under.] When the Wise Men set out to find Jesus, what was their intention? Is it a wonder that the three visitors from the east - Gentiles, outsiders - are called wise? What is a word that might be used to describe Herod? At the risk of creating a dualistic image, I want to draw upon these contrasting images of the Wise Men and Foolish Herod and consider our own interactions with others. What do we bring when we go on a visit? What do we bring when we run into someone? What do we bring when we come to church, or go to a place where people are gathered? What do we offer through our correspondence...and email, a phone call, a text message? Joy, Love, Appreciation, even Adoration in our hearts when we knock on the door? Can our presence bring dread? Oh no, it’s so and so...

Matthew 2:1-12 - Ancient Stories

To get me in the Christmas spirit last week, Desiree Burnett sent me a link to a video called
“The Digital Story of the Nativity.”  It imaginatively depicts the angel Gabriel’s annunciation to Mary coming in the form of a text message that Mary receives on her iphone; the subsequent dialogue between Joseph and Mary takes place on email (gmail of course); the birth of Jesus is announced on facebook; and the three wise men purchase their gifts on eBay; these same three become followers of the star on Twitter. And tweet back and forth to one another their progress as they make their way to see Jesus following the star.

If some of you have no idea what I’m talking about right now....IT’S TIME TO GET WITH THE 21ST CENTURY!

ACTUALLY, Ten years ago and less, none of these methods of communication even existed.
Now we depend on them (or at least we think we do). Chances are high that for many of us,
devices that may enhance our ability to communicate by these various means took up a big place under your Xmas tree, even if it came in a small package. These things aint cheap! But I digress.  The video is great, and I really appreciate its attempt to make sense of an ancient story--the story of Jesus birth--through our 21st century reality.

This is the ongoing task of people of faith who depend on ancient stories found in sacred scriptures: How does the story relate to our lives today?

We love the birth story.  Of course! It’s about a baby and the dramatic events that surround his birth. It has the exciting events of the pregnancy; the adventure and danger of travel even migration; the terrifying suspense of King Herod’s actions; And in the end, the good guys win.  
But what does that story mean for our lives today? So here’s the fun we’re going to have with our biblical passage today.  An exercise in hermeneutics - interpretation, doesn’t that sound fun! Woohoo

The passage comes from Matthew 2:1-12.  The story of the wise men, or magi, or readers of the stars.  And I’m going to share with you briefly, some of the more creative ways, five to be exact, this scene of the story has been interpreted in an attempt to make it relevant to our own lives.  
So let’s open our hearts and minds as we, with diligence, seek to discover the meaning of Christmas, kind of like the wise men who sought out the baby Jesus by following a star two thousand years ago.  

Ready! (all but the last interpretation were inspired by the devotional Su Voz, published by the Presbyterian Reformed Church of Cuba, Oct -Nov- Dec 2010 edition).

One: How much thought have you given to the star?  The star of Bethlehem?  Without the star, we don’t have  a story. It got the wise men to Jesus.  The star guided them to the best news: the birth of hope.  Think about this: we too can be like the star of Bethlehem, and guide others to places where there is hope, humility, harmony, and peace.  We may provide light for people who are lost.  May we shine brightly!