PASTOR DAVE’S MUSINGS FROM THE HEARTLAND

December 29, 2024

TWINKLE, TWINKLE LITTLE STAR

                The Advent study book that the adult Sunday school class at Plymouth United Methodist used has an additional lesson for the Sunday of Christmastide.  In this lesson Rob Fuquay, the author of the book, takes us to Persia and the story in Matthew of the coming of the Wise Men.  This visit to the Holy family could have been at least two years after the birth of Jesus.

Rob asks a question that has often crossed my mind.  “But if the star of Bethlehem was some brilliantly visible sign, why were there no other people in the story who saw it?  Coult it be that the star was fainter than we imagine? Rather than being an irrefutable sign pointing the way to Bethlehem, what if it was visible just to those who were seeking? (On the Way to Bethlehem, p. 115).”  Rather than being a great light in the sky, perhaps the star of Bethlehem was more like one of the first songs I learned to play on the violin, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.

If it is the case that the star of Bethlehem was just a faint star in the sky, then the Magi saw it because they were paying attention.  They were constantly reading the signs of their time to discover what information they might hold.  Jesus invited His followers to be sensitive to what was going on around them.  Also, in Matthew Jesus tells His disciples “But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.  For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it (Matthew 13:17).”

The spirit of Christmas is all around for those who have the ears to hear and the eyes to see.  Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star is a childhood song about the wonder children can have about all of the interesting things around them.  As adults can we have the same wonder about our surroundings.  Perhaps, if we are vigilant, we just might see the Kingdom of God breaking into our midst.

Fuquay also comments on the gifts the Magi brought.  “When Joseph was warned in a dream to take Mary and the child and flee to Egypt to escape Herod, they would have had to live there for several years until Herod died.  How did they afford to do that?  Most likely they survived on the gifts of the magi.  Those treasures were converted into food, clothing, and shelter.  This is a good reminder of how God uses our gifts far beyond our understanding when we give them.  When we give to support the causes of Christ, God uses our gifts to become life-giving, even lifesaving, resources for others (On the Way to Bethlehem, p. 121).”

The observance of the coming of Magi on January 6 marks the beginning of the Season After The Epiphany in the Christmas year.  The first Sunday of the season recalls the baptism of Jesus and the last Sunday His transfiguration.  Some Christian groups refer to this time as ordinary time.  As we return to our ordinary lives following the celebration of Thanksgiving and Christmas, the Magi remind us that we should have our eyes and ears open to the small, little ways in which God is breaking into our world.  Several times Jesus told his followers they must become like children if they wanted to enter the Kingdom of God.  One way we can do this is to recapture their wonderment.

(Comments may be sent to davidh15503@embarqmail.com.)