Wednesday 24 January 2024

Week beginning 7th January

 

Reading: Psalm 68: verse 29


Prayer:

Shepherd of Israel,

you sent a star to enlighten the wise

and a child to topple the tyrant.

Make us wise enough to seek you

among the least of your children,

wise enough to trade our treasure

for the gift of overwhelming joy. Amen.


Song: As with gladness, men of old

As with Gladness Men of Old (StF 224) - YouTube


Prayer:

How can we not sing your praise
with heart and soul
and proclaim your name
throughout the world?
God of creation,
Awesome in power,
Sustainer,
Provider,
Saviour,
Father of all,
there is none like you!
How can we not declare your glory
through all that we are,
and proclaim your name
throughout this world?
You are our strength,

the light by which we walk,
the truth by which we talk.
You are our hope,
the promise to which we hold,
the story that must be told.
You are the peace
this world cannot provide,
that overcomes our pride.
You are our God,
the One whose name we praise
to whom our hands are raised. Amen

Faithful God,
you call us to be saints,
but we are more comfortable with the role of sinner;
you call us to be your servants,
but we worry that we lack the skills to do your work;
you put a new song of praise in our mouths,
but we stumble on unfamiliar words;
you show us the work to be tackled,
but we turn away defiant,
insisting we have more important things to do.


Put your song on our lips and in our hearts,
and remind us of the joy that awaits us
when we put our trust in you.

You are faithful and ever-present.
You knew us before our birth
and you love us still and strengthen us,
that we will one day be blameless.
Through the gift of Jesus Christ,
you offer forgiveness, grace, and mercy.
Guide us into the light
of your unwavering, never-ending,
and grace-filled love. Amen.


Reading: Psalm 72: 1-11


Song: The first Nowell the angel did say

The First Nowell (Tune: First Noel - 5vv) [with lyrics for congregations] (youtube.com)


Reading: Matthew’s gospel, chapter 2: verses 1 to 12


Reading: Isaiah 60: 1-3


Song: We three kings of Orient are

We Three Kings with Lyrics | Christmas Carol & Song (youtube.com)


Prayers:

As the prophet Isaiah rang out, “Arise, shine; for your light has come”; empower your Church, O God, to ring out the Good News of the Light of your son Jesus, which pierces even the deepest darkness.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

As a star rose high into the night-time sky to draw the nations to the Christ-child; send your blessing, O God, on this nation, and every nation, and draw the whole world to your peace and truth.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

As John the Baptist guided throngs of people to the edge of the wilderness and baptised Jesus in the River Jordan, we pray that you would guide our country and our leaders to the ways of justice and righteousness.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Like the Magi who travelled from afar to bring gifts and celebrate the Saviour’s birth; we pray for this community, and for those who celebrate their own birthdays and anniversaries; especially _______.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

As Jesus climbed the mountaintop, and proclaimed blessings on the people of the world; we pray for the sick and the distressed, the poor and the lame. We especially pray for _____.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

As Jesus called his disciples to leave their nets and boats, and follow him; we pray for those we love and who have answered your call to follow Jesus to your Heavenly Kingdom. Give them your peace.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Lord Jesus, Light of the World, hear our prayers, and make us reflections of your Light, that the places of darkness in our world would be pierced by your Light, and that all nations would be drawn to you and be overwhelmed with joy. Amen.


Song: Lord Jesus Christ

LIVING-LORD,LORD JESUS CHRIST (youtube.com)


How many Kings visited Jesus in the Stable?


None! Nowhere in Matthew’s account are Kings mentioned. Nowhere does Matthew say that they were at the inn or stable. Nowhere does he say how many of them there were.


Most of what we think we know is tradition, rather than from the gospel account.

Much has been combined in the traditional account with Luke's account.


If they are not identified as kings, why do we call them kings? Perhaps from mentions of Kings bowing down before the anointed one (Isaiah 49 and Psalm 72 among others)

What were the Magi?

Well,the best description we have is “Wise men who studied stars” This makes them astronomers, or perhaps astrologers, this was not a well defined difference at that time. Some have suggested that the description sorcerers, or magicians would be appropriate.


It is difficult for us to use these words, the modern implications of most of them are negative, but they are the best we have.



When and from where did they come?


The best description we have is “From the East”. This could have meant Arabia, Mesopotamia, Babylonia, India or China to the writer.


As to when they were there, we can only say that is was up to two years after the birth. We know that Herod killed the children under two. He asked the wise men when the star had appeared.

Matthew says that they visited the Child in a house, not an inn or stable. There had been chance to move and set up a home.


What was the star of Bethlehem?

There are various possibilities for an astronomical event at about that time.

There was a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, three times, in the constellation of Pisces. In 7B.C.

Jupiter was the ``star'' of royalty and luck and Saturn was the star of the Mesopotamian deity who protected Israel.

These took place on:

First conjunction: May 27, 8am
Second conjunction: October 6, 10 pm
Third conjunction: December 1, 9pm.

There was time for travelliong between conjunctions.


It could have been a comet. Halley's comet would have appeared in 12 B.C.

and another comet was recorded in Capricorn in 5B.C.


There were conjunctions of a planet and a star. 7 such in 3 – 2 B.C. Including Jupiter and Regulus (x3) and Jupiter and Venus near Regulus. But, all of there were after 4 B.C., the death of Herod.


Was the star Good?

You may have heard the suggestion that it was the work of Satan, because it led the Magi to Herod.

The problem with this idea is that it does not say that the star led them to Jerusalem. The Magi came with their own expectations and prejudices. These led them to Jerusalem. It was their heir own belief, because they did not know where to look. They used logic, which can be dangerous. Human logic is not always useful. Only after they had visited Herod did the star then showed them where.

It led them to Jesus. I do not believe that anything which leads people to Jesus can be evil!


Does any of it matter?

Does it matter who came, what they were or what brought them?

There is undoubtedly significance that can be attached to the people, to where they were from, and what they brought. But these have been looked at many times.


If we are travelling, most of us would use a map, and we all have preferences about which sort of map to use. Some use the Ordnance survey, others prefer Bartholomew’s of the A.A. maps. , People have preferences, all will lead to destination, noone is going to ask, “Which sort of map did you use?” unless you get lost.


Ships use Lights, lighthouses, navigate, and landmarks to guide them to harbour. In sea-faring communities there was a tradition to leave a light in the window when the husband was at sea.. A sailor arriving in port is unlikely to be asked, “which light did you follow?” Only one who got lost.


The Star of the story is, The star. Whatever it was, it brought people to Jesus.


    D. L. Moody (of Moody and Sankey fame) was once criticised for his methods of reaching people with the gospel. His reply was ‘I agree with you, I don’t like the way I do it either. Tell me how do you do it?’  The woman who had criticised replied ‘I don’t do it.’  To which Moody responded ‘I like my way of doing it better than your way of not doing it.’ 


The way of being a star is much less important than the fact of being a star. It is where we lead that is important.


George Bernard Shaw said “Those who can do, those who can't, teach”. My father would have said “Those who can do, those who can't, criticise.”


We are called on to be stars.

We are called on to be the lights which lead people to Jesus.


Matthew 5:14-16
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let youlight shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

We should not be hidden, The world should not be able to ignore us, The world should not be able to say “I did not know you were there”

Some of you have been stars.


Some of you in ways which I do not know, perhaps you do not know either. Perhaps for people you have worked with, been on holiday with or lived with. Perhaps through work in Brigades, Sunday schools or missions


Philipp Bliss wrote a hymn.

Brightly beams our Father’s mercy from his lighthouse evermore:

But to us he gives the keeping of the lights along the shore.

Trim your feeble lamp, my brother, some poor sailor tempest tossed,
Trying now to make the harbour, in the darkness may be lost.

Let the lower lights be burning! Send a gleam across the wave!
Some poor fainting struggling seaman you may rescue, you may save


As the wise men had their star to follow, the world has us. That is our calling, that is our purpose. Or have we hidden our light under a bowl?


Song: Brightest and best of the sons of the morning

Brightest and Best of the Sons of the Morning (Tune: Epiphany - 5vv) [with lyrics for congregations] (youtube.com)


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