Were they really wise men? They must have been clever at least. They studied the sky and knew quite a lot about the stars it seems. Enough to recognise an unusual star. Whether it was what we would call a star is another question. Perhaps they had different ways of classifying the heavenly bodies. Anyway, this one was different, and its position in the heavens set them on a quest.
They thought it pointed to a new ruler amongst the Jews. Why this should interest them is not made clear in the story. But it did. So much so that they wanted to visit and show him honour. They prepared gifts appropriate for a King. Wise gifts as it turned out: implying not only royalty but suffering and divinity.
Did they know what they were doing?
{podcast id=53}
Sermon preached at Christ the King on Sunday 23 December 2012
Five responses to the birth of Jesus: fear; curiosity, amazement, praise, Joy.
{podcast id=54}
Sermon preached at Christ the King Willetton on 16 December 2012
Just the birth story without angels, prophets, shepherds or Kings. A human family story.
Some people are shy and don’t want attention focussed on them. Some of these feel bad about themselves. Others know they can stand up to scrutiny but just don’t want the attention. Some only want the attention when they are happy with the way they look.
When we come to the birth of Jesus, it is as though there are great searchlights focussed on him. Angelic announcers, a huge army of angels, all sorts of visitors, and interested investigators. And what do they see? No PR advisor.
A low class presentation. Not properly prepared for by the looks of it. Bunking down with a bunch of other visitors. Not even a decent bassinet for the baby. Certainly no private room.
Is it difficult to imagine Mary and Joseph giving birth to their first baby all alone in a stable? Not difficult if we accept the legendary story. Quite difficult if we think of it in terms of family and relatives and travellers needing hospitality.
Of course the traditional legend has a sub-theme of inhospitality. But it is pretty unlikely. Joseph is returning to his home town. He is related to many others who live there, and others who, like him, are visiting. There will be some clever relatives who will be able to plot the whole family tree to several generations, and then repeat it backwards.
Joseph is visiting among relatives. He is visiting in a society that set great store by family and hospitality. There is no way any relative would have allowed Joseph’s pregnant wife to stay anywhere than in one of their homes.
{podcast id=55}
Sermon preached at Christ the King Willetton on 9 December 2012
What Mary was told and what it means
At the time of writing the Duchess of Cambridge was in hospital with really bad morning sickness. And some of the eager press think this indicates twins. And twins has implications for the succession. And what if one is a girl and one is a boy? And what if the Commonwealth countries don’t all change their laws at the same time so that a firstborn girl can have precedence over a second born boy?
Maybe they both will be Kings and Queens of different parts of the Commonwealth, a bit like Narnia maybe? For the rest of us getting ready for a baby doesn’t seem as complicated as that. Although, choosing names, clothes, painting the baby’s room, equipment, finding an obstetrician, seem to soak up a fair bit of energy, not to mention any morning sickness.
Another future King gave his mother a bit of angst as well. No doubt she also had morning sickness.
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