Matthew 2:1-12 (The arrival of the Wise Men.)

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.

The image of the Wise Men is so colourful that it is a favourite for Christmas Card designers. For this reason the Magi arrive early on our mantle pieces, well before the Feast of the Epiphany (6th January). Some Orthodox Churches refrain from celebrating Christmas until this ‘13th’ day of Christmas. If we were to ask God for his opinion I have a hunch that he would say ‘Celebrate Christmas on 25th December and 6th January and every day in between and until the 40th day – Candlemas - on 2nd February’! I think Charles Dickens got it right when he encouraged us to celebrate Christmas in our hearts all year round.

Some may argue that Christmas is just the arrival, and that we should move on to focus on Jesus the adult – his claims, his teaching and the Easter events. They would argue that Christmas is too comfortable and undemanding. Wrong.

The visit of the Wise Men is often described as the ‘Adoration of the Magi’, and our Christmas Carols encourage us to ‘come let us adore him’. This call to adoration goes well beyond looking in the Manger and saying “Isn’t he gorgeous”. Adoration is a strong word that speaks of an outpouring of love to the point of worship; it’s about being stirred into wanting to give ourselves to the other person. Adoration is epitomized in the giving of gifts as in the Wise Men’s gifts of gold, incense and myrrh.

The rest of the Gospel story, including the cross, can be summarized as Jesus confronting those who would want to prevent us from freely journeying to the Manger in joy and adoration. Jesus had to deal with those who claimed God was too big, too powerful, too holy or too remote to allow us near him. He had to deal with those who would shoo us away because we were sinners and misfits. But if we were to truly grasp the Christmas message, we would crowd into the Stable knowing that the birth of Jesus was indeed the moment of our salvation. Let us adore him!