Can you see them coming?

Psalm 72, Isaiah 60, Matthew 2:1-12 and Ephesians 3:1-12

Can you see them coming?

The oldest of them saw it first – a new star – there on the horizon in the west, a star that in all his years of studying the unvarying order of the heavens had not been there before.

As a magi, a priest of the Eastern tribes, he knew all there was to know about the world around him, he’d read the ancient texts collected in their libraries, studied the rise and fall of the kingdoms and empires and yet – this new star awoke in him a strange excitement, a wonder at what God was doing. He consulted his colleagues and they agreed that it was the star of a new king, a great king, about to be born.

No one suggested it, no one said it first, it was as if they all just knew that they would go to welcome this new king, to worship him. They were men of wealth and influence, men with others at their command, and yet this great king, heralded by the heavens, they needed to honour in person. Other members of their tribe spoke against such a long and uncertain journey and yet others saw the strange longing in their eyes and felt an echo in their own hearts.

Can you see them coming?

Day after day with the hot sun beating on their heads, the camels complaining, the sand blowing in their eyes… Night after night setting up camp or making do with local inns, keeping a watchful eye out for bandits…

Can you see them coming?

And only when they finally – exhaustedly – reached Jerusalem did they falter. Where were the celebrations? Where were the joyous faces? The people kept their heads down, moving with the learned invisibility of occupied populations. All their inquiries were directed – with anxious haste – to the Palace of Herod the Great. And Herod received them, men of such bearing, dressed in such finery, how could he not? But even these foreigners – through their translators - felt the tension ripple out of Herod’s reception chamber and across Jerusalem when they asked, “Where is the great king?” It is hard to express tact through translators.

The religious aristocracy of Jerusalem and the leading theological scholars were assembled and the question was put to them. And they answered, they all agreed, “According to the prophet Micah, in Bethlehem of Judea.”

Bethlehem, only six miles south, so close to their goal! But before they could go – a polite – but indeclinable – request came from Herod for a private meeting. They were asked about the exact time the star appeared, but then, there were no further delays. Herod sent them on to Bethlehem, with one final instruction to return to him with directions to the child.

Can you see them coming?

On the road to Bethlehem their sense of foreboding fades. There is the star in the sky over the town, and there it is over the house.

Can you see them coming? Can you see their faces overwhelmed with joy?

And they entered the house and saw the child and knelt and offered him their love and their lives; the journey they had undertaken, and the richest gifts they could carry – and they find in this child,

- The mystery of the ages; that in the child they have come to welcome; God welcomes them

- The wisdom of the ages; that God’s family will be one new humanity made up of all humanity

- The riches of God, the inexhaustible riches of God in the extravagant generosity of the Christ

Can you see them coming? Magi finding a mystery. Wise men finding wisdom. Rich men finding riches beyond their dreams.

Can you see us coming? Faithful followers of God, knowing the light we have seen on the horizon is the true light and travelling the journey of our lives - its hardships, joys and heartaches with courage - confident of God’s love for us. Can you see us coming?

Can you see us coming? Familiar followers of God, those of us who have grown up in Christian faith, in Christian families, who have read the Bible all our lives, and yet – our main concern is still our own affairs – will we admit our self-interest, pre-occupation, and walk those last 6 miles to Bethlehem? Can you see us coming?

And those of us uncertain of our love for God, seeing faint light in the sky but uncertain of trusting our love and lives to that light, of making the journey, of directing our energy, our ambition, our resources towards reaching the Christ – will we realise that Christ never impoverishes those who put their trust in God, but always immeasurably enriches them?

Can you see us coming? Men and women finding a mystery. Wise men and women finding wisdom. Rich men and women finding riches? Can you see the joy…