IV.
Notice who has questions, who is frightened, who has answers, who is willing to travel in search of one who is due homage, who pays attention to stars, ancient writings, and dreams, and who finds joy.

V.
Matthew 2:1-12 (NRSVue)

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, magi from the east came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star in the east 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. hey 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 magi 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 in the east, 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.

VI.
Why is Herod frightened? Why does he misrepresent his desire to see the child?

The magi are on a quest. It seems they did not fully know where the quest would take them. Yet, in their journey they found joy. What else do you think they found?

Think about journeys you have been on. What did you expect of the journey? Did the journey reward you? How?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}