Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him

 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?  For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."  When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.  And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.  So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:

"But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.'"

Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared.  And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also."  When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.  When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.  And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him.  And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him:  gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

- Matthew 2:1-12

Yesterday, we read that when the Sabbath was past just after Jesus' death on the Cross, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him.  Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.  And they said among themselves, "Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?"  But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away -- for it was very large.  And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.  But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed.  You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.  He is risen!  He is not here.  See the place where they laid Him.  But go, tell His disciples -- and Peter -- that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you."  So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed.  And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.  Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons.  She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept.  And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.  After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country.  And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either.  Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.  And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.  He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.  And these signs will follow those who believe:  In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."  So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.  And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs.  Amen.

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?  For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."  We begin reading Matthew's Gospel today, beginning with this second chapter and the visit of the wise men to Christ.  These wise men are also called the magi.  They come from the East, most likely Persia.  They were the scholars of their time.  My study bible says that in the Old Testament, Balaam (Numbers 23;24) is one of their predecessors, a Gentile who anticipated the Messiah.  The wise men, all foreigners, prefigure the Church, in which membership is determined by faith and not by ethnic lineage.  The star proclaims the extraordinary birth of Christ, and is possibly a visibly brilliant alignment of planets of which these wise men would have been aware.  To the ancient pagans, says my study bible, a star signified a god, a deified king (Numbers 24:17).   It says that Christ being born under this star fulfills the prophecy in Psalm 110:3.

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.  And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.  So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:  "But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.'"  Herod is Herod the Great, also known as Herod the Builder for his ambitious projects (notably the expansion of the Second Temple, among other projects).  He was also known for his extreme ruthlessness, even by the standards for rulers of his time.  According to Wikipedia, he has been described by various scholarly sources as "a madman who murdered his own family and a great many rabbis", "the evil genius of the Judean nation", and "prepared to commit any crime in order to gratify his unbounded ambition."  Herod was known as a person who would murder anyone even rumored to be scheming for his throne.  He was the ruler of Judea under Rome.  My study bible says that he had to summon the Jewish leaders because he knew little about the Messiah and was afraid of losing his throne to this newborn King.  The chief priests were the political and religious leaders of the Jews, and the scribes were high cabinet officers.  These men versed in Scripture and tradition knew where the Messiah was to be born -- but, my study bible points out, in spite of all the signs being in place, they had no idea He had come (see Jesus' remark in Matthew 16:3).   They quote from the prophecy of Micah 5:2. 

Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared.  And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also."  When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.  When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.  And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him.  And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him:  gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.   My study bible says that whereas the Jewish shepherds worship the Savior in the cave on the day He was born (Luke 2:8-20), the Gentile magi came to worship Him sometime later (as they come into the house to meet the young Child and His mother).  By then, a note says, Joseph and Mary had found a house in which to dwell.  It's an indication that Christ first came to the Jews and then afterward was worshiped by Gentiles, a pattern that is established right from the beginning in Matthew's Gospel.    The significance of the gifts is noted in an Orthodox hymn sung at Compline on the Nativity: "Gold is for the King of ages.  Frankincense is for the God of all.  Myrrh is offered to the Immortal One, who shall be three days dead."

Who knows?  And who doesn't?  These are questions that swirl around the birth of the Messiah.  Yesterday, the lectionary gave us the final reading in Mark's Gospel.  Jesus glorifies everything around Himself by His very presence.  The lectionary has skipped over the Nativity (see Matthew 1:18-25), and we are brought directly to these wise men, the scholars of their time, who are aware of what is happening -- that a great king is being born.  The text tells us not just that they come with gifts but that they "fell down and worshiped Him," telling us that they know what is appropriate to the Christ, although just a babe.  We know the humbleness of His circumstances, and that the wise men know who He is despite the humble setting.  And related to that, immediately we see a kind of war with worldly power in the person of Herod, known as a very bloodthirsty and ambitious leader of his time.   Herod learns directly from the wise men why they have come, but he has no idea of prophecy and does not know who the Child is.  And sadly, the religious leaders know all about prophecy and the minutiae of Scripture and tradition, but no idea that the time is now.  A pattern, as my study bible pointed out, that will continue throughout the story of the life of Jesus.  The wise men ask, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?" and we remember also the charge laid against Jesus, mounted on the Cross, THE KING OF THE JEWS.   There is myrrh given at His birth, and myrrh at His empty tomb brought by the women for anointing -- the first to be told news of the Resurrection.  So here's the key:  how do we know?  What is it that gives us wisdom?  How can we tell the holy in our midst?  Do we understand the light of Christ, and of the Spirit, that gives everything beauty and significance?  Christ Himself is Wisdom; we must be able to worship to share in it.  The key seems to be the question, what do we value?  What's in our hearts?  Christ is present today, the Holy Spirit is "everywhere present and filling all things" (according to a traditional prayer of the Orthodox Church that begins every service).   The empty tomb in yesterday's reading, the Cross upon which He was crucified, even the Babe in today's reading with His mother, worshiped by the wise men -- all is given power and meaning because Christ is there, holy power is there, the Spirit is at work.  This is the way we must see everything in our world as touched by Him and His presence, the effect of His work and mission, the Spirit He leaves to us that anoints the whole of the creation.  In yesterday's reading, the disciples did not believe those who had seen Him, until He appeared to all of them.  So the question is again, who knows?  Who has wisdom?  Who sees and understands?  Here we are, in a humble place in Bethlehem, and He's already being pursued, but already known and worshiped by the wise.  Let us be among them and do as they do. 

Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:

'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;

For out of you shall come a Ruler

Who will shepherd My people Israel.' "

Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also."When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

- Matthew 2:1-12

In yesterday's reading, we read the end of the gospel of Mark. Three women -- Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome (the mother of James and John Zebedee) -- come to the tomb after the Sabbath is over, in order to anoint Jesus' body. But the stone is rolled away, and inside is a man! The young man, an angel, said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples--and Peter--that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you." The women were frightened, and said nothing. But when Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, Apostle to the Apostles. She told the disciples, but they didn't believe her. Neither did they believe the two disciples to whom He appeared as they walked on the road. Finally, Jesus appeared to the eleven as they ate together, and rebuked them for their unbelief. And He gave them their great mission -- "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." And Mark's gospel ends: So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?" Today the lectionary takes us to the beginning of readings (starting with Chapter 2) in the Gospel of Matthew. And it is a wonderful continuation from yesterday's reading, the end of Mark. In the ending of Mark's gospel, Jesus sends His disciples out on their world mission to the Gentiles and to all the world, to "every creature" or all of creation. And here, in our first reading from Matthew, we have a prefiguring of this mission! My study bible notes, "Matthew anticipates Jesus' mission to the Gentiles. The wise men, or Magi, who come from the East, that is, outside of Israel (perhaps from Persia), are the scholars of their time. In the Old Testament, Balaam (Num. 23; 24) was one of their predecessors, a Gentile who also anticipated the Messiah. The worship of the Lord by the Magi is symbolic of the Church, the true Israel, in which membership is determined by faith, not by ethnic lineage." We recall also from recent readings in Mark, the words on the Cross at His crucifixion, the political charge against Jesus as prisoner, "The King of the Jews." They are echoed both at His birth and at His death.

"For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." A star in ancient times signified a god, a deified king (Num. 24:17), says my study bible. It adds, "This star is a sign of the Messiah Himself, signifying the light He will shed upon the world."

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.' " The quotation here is from Micah 5:2. Herod consults the experts -- the temple leaders, the chief priests and the scribes. All that Herod cares about is his rule as king. Herod the Great rebuilt the temple at Jerusalem and was known for his ambitious building projects. He was also known for his cruelty and oppressive rule. He is representative of the Roman government, an agent (or underling, as my study bible puts it) of Rome. My study bible says, "He was a great builder but a cruel ruler." It also points out a compliment to the understanding that Gentiles, wise men from the East, seek the Child -- that the experts in prophecy and understanding about the Messiah (the chief priests and scribes) have no clue that He has been born. A note reads, "They have no revelation that He has come. God reveals His truth to those with 'a noble and good heart' (Luke 8:15)."

Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also."When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. My study bible notes here: "Matthew, writing for Jewish Christians, cites Gentiles as the first worshipers of Jesus. Luke, writing for Gentile Christians, cites as the fist worshipers the Jewish poor -- shepherds from surrounding fields (Luke 2:8-17). The Magi, firstfruits of the Gentiles, come to Christ bearing gifts: gold, for a King; frankincense, for God; and myrrh, for a Man who is to suffer and die." We cite the echoes of yesterday's reading, in which the women faithful bring spices to the tomb for anointing Jesus' body. They are also known as the Myrrhbearers. The note continues, "The wise men have received some knowledge about the newborn King through their observation of the star, but when they see Him, they recognize Him as the Sun of righteousness (Mal. 4:2), the Orient (the rising sun) from on high (Is. 59:19), the Bright and Morning Star (Rev. 22:16)."

Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. As we have seen from the preceding verses, the "wise men" are truly wise through the wisdom of revelation from God. They have eyes to see and ears to hear; their hearts are not hardened, as Jesus will warn so many in His preaching. This includes the revelation to them of the Christ, their understanding to worship Him -- even as He is but a babe -- and the divine warning in the dream. As my study bible puts it, they are the "firstfruits of the Gentiles." They are those capable of faith, of receiving understanding. Nothing stands in the way of God's grace; it will go where it will. And so, as so often happens with inspired writing, the Scriptures tie together -- yesterday's reading in which Jesus taught the disciples their great mission to all of creation, and today's in which we read about the wise men from the East.

Nothing stands in the way of God's grace -- in this unlikely story of the child born under difficult circumstances, outside of the watchful eye of the authorities (although they have come to Bethlehem for the Roman census), out of the knowledge of the religious leadership of the temple who are experts in the knowledge of the Messiah, we see those who do come from the outside, and understand. So, we have this great contrast of those, who "seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand" (as Jesus will quote from Isaiah), and those who come from outside, and yet perceive. How can God's grace be thwarted or stopped? Can we know what the holy will look like? Can we say where it cannot be? Let us remember that God's grace will work as it wishes, as Jesus will teach: "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit" (John 3:8). In the beginning of Matthew, the light of the star shines, and the light of the Babe reaches into the hearts and understanding, in faith and worship, of the wise men who come from the East. Let us remember God's love and grace, and that nothing we can say or do can stop it or control it. It will go where it wishes, as it chooses. We can but try to be prepared as best we can to know it, and accept it -- to have the ears to hear and eyes to see. We watch and pray.

Wise men from the East

Damaskinos - Adoration of the Magi

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:

'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;

For out of you shall come a Ruler

Who will shepherd My people Israel.'"

Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also."

When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gift to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

- Matthew 2:1-12

Today we continue our Christmastide readings, with the story of the "wise men" from the East. Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, . . . My study notes here that "Matthew anticipates Jesus' mission to the Gentiles. The wise men, or Magi, who come from the East, that is, outside of Israel (perhaps from Persia), are the scholars of their time. In the Old Testament, Balaam (Numbers 23; 24) was one of their predecessors, a Gentile who also anticipated the Messiah. The worship of the Lord by the Magi is symbolic of the Church, the true Israel, in which membership is determined by faith, not by ethnic lineage." It continues, "One of the rare bits of chronological information in Matthew places this event in the reign of Herod the Great, king of Judea (37-4 B.C.). An underling of Rome, he was a great builder but a cruel ruler." I find it very important that we have a sense of "all things" being under this Creator, this Babe who is the king or Messiah. My study bible's commentary that this is Matthew's vision of Jesus' mission to the Gentiles, teaches us something very important about this Incarnation: it is the incarnation of Creator, the One who is Truth and Whose Spirit is called the Spirit of Truth. Therefore, we anticipate rightly, whatever is true in all religion in some sense serves the Person who is Truth, and is also found in Christ.

. . . saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." A note here reads, "The star signifies the extraordinary importance of the birth of the Christ Child. In ancient times a star signified a god, a deified king (Num. 24:17). This star is a sign of the Messiah Himself, signifying the light He will shed upon the world." A kind of revelation leads the "wise men" to Jesus. The light of the star gives us part of the nature of this Messiah; He is the light coming into the world, and into the darkness, to illuminate the Way for those who would be wise. In this event, we have an understanding of the cosmic nature of Christ, this Messiah, who is not just for one people, but for a whole universe of beauty and creation, and those who understand, who see.

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. A note here teaches: "Knowing little of the Jewish Messiah and fearful of losing his throne to a newborn king, Herod asks the chief priests and scribes . . . where the Christ was to be born. The chief priests of the temple in Jerusalem are the political and religious leaders of the Jews. They include the high priest, who alone can enter the Holiest of All (Heb. 9:7). They have no idea that the Messiah has been born. The scribes, high cabinet officers (2 Kin. 22; Jer. 36:10), know the Messiah is to be born, and where. But they have no revelation that He has come. God reveals His truth to those with 'a noble and good heart' (Luke 8:15)." Herod learns some intelligence (in the political sense) from the wise men - there is a threat to Herod's reign. We see this mysterious confluence of intelligence, of wisdom. The Magi come from the East, and they understand. Herod calls together his own intelligence counsel - those who know the Scriptures, whose business it is to understand the things that pertain to the awaited Messiah. All prepare for the arrival, born into our world, of the incarnate Deity of all - a cosmic event, in the form of a Babe. Indeed, all of the cosmos participates - even the star as a sign, and the gifts of the earth borne by the Magi of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And it is not only the realm of religion, wisdom and spiritual understanding that is preparing for this event, but the political realm as well. The question is, as the quotation from Luke 8:15 would teach us, how will each understand this event in their hearts? It is a universal question, open to us all.

So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.'" The quotation is from the Book of the Prophet Micah chapter 5, verse 2. Micah's prophecy teaches us about One "who is, and was and is to come" (Rev. 1:8), as it teaches about a future ruler "whose origins are from of old, from ancient times" - a concept rooted in Mystery, and the depth of Creation.

Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also." Herod, of course, has received this news in one way, that does not speak of him as having "a noble and good heart." For Herod, all is political, and about threats to his political power. Here he uses trickery on the wise men. The seed of the Word begins even before He is born. How does it fall in each of us, from Herod to the wise men from the East?

When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gift to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. A note here reads: "Matthew, writing for Jewish Christians, cites Gentiles as the first worshipers of Jesus. Luke, writing for Gentile Christians, cites a the first worshipers the Jewish poor -- shepherds from surrounding fields (Luke 2:8-17 [see reading and commentary here and here]). The Magi, firstfruits of the Gentiles, come to Christ bearing gifts: gold, for King; frankincense, for God; and myrrh, for a Man who is to suffer and die. The wise men have received some knowledge about the newborn King through their observation of the star, but when they see Him, they recognize Him as the Sun of Righteousness (Mal. 4:2), the Orient (the rising sun) from on high (Is. 59:19), the Bright and Morning Star (Rev. 22:16)." In the presence of the Child, the Magi or wise men fall and worship Him. We are told, "they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy" as they have found their treasure, the Bright and Morning Star, the Sun of Righteousness, the Orient. We discussed the symbolism of the gifts of the Magi in an earlier commentary, on how the early church viewed Jesus' birth as a prefiguration of all that was to come (see Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill to men!) They understand Him as the Light coming into the world that brings exceedingly great joy.

Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. Again, the play of dreams divinely inspired with messages for those who are at work in these events that surround the birth of Christ comes into the Gospel. In so many of our Christmastide readings, we have received this sign over and over again, of God's grace at work through divine messengers and dreams.

What message do we get from this Gospel reading today? There is the great Light - Christ who is Himself "the East," the great "Star" of the morning, the "Sun of Righteousness." The wise men follow the light of the star to find the Star, and their hearts are illumined with a divine light, the understanding of exceeding joy at finding this Child and worshiping Him. How many ways can we find Christ? How many signs point the way in our lives? Do dreams help us to understand the way to God, and to the joy we find in finding Christ for ourselves? To my mind, this passage teaches us that all things lead to God, to that center of the great light we can find in our hearts. My study bible cites in commentary Luke's Gospel message about the word (from Jesus' parable of the Sower): But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. The wise men come from the East, with such hearts noble and good. They can hear and they can see, in the spiritual sense in which Jesus will so often call on us to have true sight and hearing (see Matt. 13:15,16). People from every part of the world, from all backgrounds and understanding have this capability. The Child incarnate in Bethlehem is not just for one people but for all, from all traditions. All that is true comes from this cosmic Creator, the Person who is Truth, "whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." This mysterious root stretches through all of us, and through all of time, to the hearts of any who are ready to hear and understand the Word. Let us not bar in our hearts the wisdom of any person who can find the seed of this Word in their hearts where it can take hold and bear fruits. In a cosmic sense, we are all rooted in that Word, incarnate in the Babe born in Bethlehem, whose true origins begin before us all in Mystery, and are revealed to those to whom the Father wills, who are found everywhere. This is what the Gospel teaches us today. How many ways can the light of this Word reach into our lives? Let us understand that the answer to that question is unlimited, and open our hearts to the work of grace which cannot be contained by any human understanding or limitation we would put on the work of God in our world.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

"Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

- Luke 2:1-14

As we continue our readings for Christmastide, today we visit Luke's account of the birth of Christ. Yesterday, we read about Joseph and his betrothed wife Mary, and the angel's announcement to Joseph in Matthew's account of the birth of Jesus. See St. Joseph - And he called His name Jesus.

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. My study bible notes here that "Octavian, who as emperor was called Caesar Augustus, ruled the Roman Empire at the zenith of its expansion and power (31 B.C. - A.D. 14). The registration is for the purpose of taxation." Given the historical setting provided by Luke, scholars calculate that the census most likely began about 6-5 B.C.

So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. A note here reads: "Though Mary is with child, the Gospel does not call her Joseph's wife but rather his betrothed wife, for she is still a virgin. Some manuscripts read simply 'his betrothed.' Although betrothal was binding in the Jewish tradition, the couple did not engage in sexual relations during this period." We read in yesterday's reading of the character of Joseph, a kind man who would not put his betrothed in a position of public scandal -- and also of the annunciation of the angel to Joseph in a dream, telling him about the Child and mother. Joseph travels with his family to the historical city of his ancestors for registration, the city of David. In yesterday's reading, Joseph is called "son of David" by the angel, due to his Davidic ancestry. In today's reading, we learn they travel from Nazareth.

So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. A note here reads: "The firstborn Son is 'holy to the LORD' (v. 23) and has special significance as primary heir and carrier of patriarchal blessings. Firstborn does not necessarily mean others will be born after Him, but only that no child was born before Him. Manger: a feeding trough for livestock. The hills around Bethlehem held many caves where domestic animals were kept by night. It was in such a humble cave that Jesus was born." One imagines the people - others also of the ancestral lineage of David - crowding into Bethlehem for the census. I have read that many homes were built in front of such caves, which were used for livestock as an attachment to the property. This idea of Jesus' birth in such a cave is ancient tradition in the Church; writings dating from the second century speak of this tradition. My friend, Deacon Shant Kazanjian of the Armenian Apostolic Church, spoke to me about the ancient icons of the birth of Jesus, and this picture of a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a stone manger - represented not as a trough but as a table, as a sort of altar - and inside of a cave. Theologically, it is a picture of Christ being born into our world, as one of us: the cave is like a tomb (indeed, like the tomb in which He will be buried after the Crucifixion), the swaddling cloths like those in which contemporary dead were buried after anointing. Even the gifts of the Magi, which we will read about later, contain elements for burial (the myrrh for anointing, the frankincense for prayers). In effect, Christ is born into the depths of our world, overshadowed by death, to become one of us, and to bring light into the darkness. The stone manger, as a sort of table, is representative of an altar on which He is given to us as grace giving this Gift to the world, who will also become the sacrifice for all of us, so that we may have life abundantly. This is the way the ancient Church understood this birth.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. A note reads: "Not to kings, priests or biblical scholars, but to Shepherds living out in the fields do the angels announce the birth of Him who would be Lamb of God and Shepherd of the sheep." These fields have traditionally been identified as somewhere near the Bethlehem suburb of Beit Sahour, overlooking the hill country there. Jesus, of course, will call Himself the Good Shepherd, and those who hear His voice are His sheep. The identification of Jesus with the shepherds at His birth will remain an essential symbol for Christianity, and play a distinct role in its theology throughout the centuries.

And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. A note here reads, "The appearance of the angel and the radiance of the glory of the Lord underscores the divine event that is taking place, the birth of the eternal Son of God in His human nature." Once again, we encounter the element of grace at work through the action of angelic messengers in this story. This time it is an announcement to the shepherds. The nativity story is filled with such encounters, some of which we've read about in recent readings: to Zacharias, to Mary, to Joseph, and now to the shepherds in the fields.

Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. My study bible says here: "Christ means 'the Anointed One,' the Messiah. The title Lord shows He is God; Savior shows that He will save His people from the power of sin and death." This birth, this powerful event in which Christ is born into the midst of our world, is not something to fear. The power of grace brought into the world and working in it is something for which we experience great joy, its news good tidings for everyone. This Lord is not coming to judge, but to save, a great Gift to the whole world.

And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" A note here says, "Christ comes to bring peace and goodwill toward men, for He is the incarnate love of God, reconciling humanity to God and people to each other." The Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger, is a sign to them, a sign to the shepherds, who represent us all, doing our best to care for all that we love, in stewardship in God's world. God brings the most vulnerable of children, a Babe, as His gift to us, wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. He will be the sacrifice given for us, the Son given to us, so that we all may have life.

The shepherds represent all of us who need that light and the saving guidance it brings, so that we may have life in abundance, and all that includes, even peace and joy and goodwill. I think it's quite powerful that this image of the shepherds brings us not only a single angelic messenger making an announcement, but suddenly "a multitude of the heavenly host." This is impossible for me to imagine. And there is more, they are "praising God and saying: 'Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!'" What we have is at once an image of angelic presence in heaven itself, worshiping and glorifying God, and the great Gift of the Son in our midst. This heavenly event is an eternal reality, but it is ever-present to us, as it is to those shepherds at this moment in earth's history, when we receive our Gift. God's grace makes the heavenly presence a reality available to us, and we celebrate this Gift each Sunday along with that heavenly angelic presence. But first, it manifested before those shepherds who received the Good News, the Sign, the good tidings of great joy. The song of praise will be echoed in the words of Christ at the Last Supper, as He promises that He gives us His peace, and teaches us to love one another as He has loved us. The Gift that is given in this birth of the Babe is a Gift He will institute for us as the Eucharist, that keeps on giving to us, as we "do this in remembrance of Him." That Babe in the cave is born to us as God, as a Gift from God, as Son, as light that comes into the darkness for us. Through angelic messenger, and a whole multitude of the heavenly host, we are proclaimed recipients of this good news, this great joy, this saving grace. But without the love and care of those who hear, who receive this grace and good news, such as Mary and Joseph, where would He be? Where would this story be? How would we have these good tidings of great joy? As He is born the most vulnerable Babe, let us remember our part in God's grace, the part of the shepherds and all those concerned with this story. That role continues in a lineage of grace right through to our times. Where would we be without those who also hear and receive and do their part, with grace working through them? We each do our part as bearers and receivers of this great news, of the light that comes into the darkness.