Scripture Scribbles: January 7, 2024
the Gospel
Matthew 2:1-12
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,
in the days of King Herod,
behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
“Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.”
When King Herod heard this,
he was greatly troubled,
and all Jerusalem with him.
Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people,
He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea,
for thus it has been written through the prophet:
And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
since from you shall come a ruler,
who is to shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod called the magi secretly
and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.
He sent them to Bethlehem and said,
“Go and search diligently for the child.
When you have found him, bring me word,
that I too may go and do him homage.”
After their audience with the king they set out.
And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them,
until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star,
and on entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures
and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,
they departed for their country by another way.
the devotion
For the past nine years, my family has rarely missed the annual Epiphany celebration and play in a community we hold dearly to our hearts.
Each year, members of the community present gifts to the people playing the part of the Holy Family - usually with an adorable live baby Jesus under the age of two as the recipient. Often the gifts presented are of joys and newness that occurred over the past year.
As each person comes up - sometimes gingerly due to varying disabilities - a swelling sacredness falls upon the room. Society often does not acknowledge the gifts people with disabilities have to offer; yet, I have had the privilege of being transformed by the gifts I encountered in this community.
Just as the magi offered what they had, we too can offer Jesus on this Epiphany all that we have. We come as we are and are invited to open our hearts to the newborn king.
May He bring a newness to your faith as we near ordinary time and anticipate Lent in a short while. The ebb and flow of our liturgical seasons provides an opportunity to embrace the gifts God has given us through His son, and to give back those gifts by serving one another.
Instead of giving into the temptation to follow a King Herod-like attitude laced with pride, let us be like the Magi, prostrating ourselves before the Lord and choosing a different path, so we may present the gifts we have to offer with freedom and humility.
Today’s devotion is written by Diana Giard
