advent day seventeen


After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."
Matthew 2: 1,2
One step at a time

Travelling was a time-consuming business in the first century. We have no idea how long it took the wise men to reach Bethlehem, but Herod’s command to find and kill all babies two years old or younger suggests the wise men could have been on the road for months rather than weeks. They had left behind their palaces, libraries and treasure-houses motivated by a desire to learn more about this star and what it might mean.

What is our journey like? Do we begin each day expecting to make some progress? Are we daunted by how far we still have to go? Or excited by the glimpses God grants us of our final destination? Are we lifting our heads above our daily tasks to check we are still going in the right direction? Do we want to find out more about who God is, and what His plans might be?

Is the reason for our journey the same as the wise mens’- to worship him?

Creator of the heavens,
who led the Magi by a star
to worship the Christ-child:
guide and sustain us,
that we may find our journey's end
in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Worship the king



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