Matthew 2:1-2
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, magi from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 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.”
Monday, December 22 - Week of Love
The Wise Men went straight to Jerusalem to pay homage to the apparent heir whom the star indicated. Where else would you find the new King? Were Jesus any human heir, this would be the truth, but we are here because of Emmanuel, God with us, who came as the humble gift of God’s love for the world.
From the very beginning of God’s physical presence as the fully divine, fully human Christ Child, humility was apparent. God chose to take on flesh and dwell among us. Jesus the Christ demonstrated humility throughout his whole ministry. If Jesus were born in the places rulers lived, that would have been counterproductive to the lesson of humility his very presence conveyed. Someone in power can possess great humility, but God chose to come in the most vulnerable way, being born as an infant fully dependent on the love of parents to help it become the man we would one day call Jesus the Christ.
The lessons of love and humility go hand in hand with the story of Christ’s birth. When we allow our hearts and minds to unite and acknowledge this aspect of our faith, it deepens our gratitude for what God offered all of creation through Emmanuel.
Prayer: God of all knowing, help us to see the world through your eyes, and learn great love and humility through the one we call Jesus the Christ. Amen.
