Matthew 2:1-2, 12
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the territory of Judea during the rule of King Herod, magi came from the east to Jerusalem. They asked, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We’ve seen his star in the east, and we’ve come to honor him.” …
Because they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country by another route.
This week the Christian church traditionally celebrates the three wise men who travelled from the area of Persia (Iran today) to worship Jesus and give him gifts. This celebration is called Epiphany, a word which can also mean “a moment of insight or revelation.”
When I was in Germany last summer, I saw many houses that had chalk written above their front doors, with the cryptic letters and numbers “20 C+M+B 23.” This is part of the Christian tradition of Epiphany, where people write the year - “20 23” - around the initials of the wise men’s names: Caspar, Malchior and Balthazar on January 6. People say prayers and walk around their house and mark their doors as a blessing for the new year (see photo).
So what? Who cares about an ancient tradition?
The wise men were not Christian – Jesus had just been born and the Christian church didn’t exist yet. They weren’t Jews – maybe they were Zoroastrians (click for more info). But for some reason, they answered a nudge from God to pack up and travel to follow the light of a star to worship a new king. Along the way, they met King Herod, ruler of Palestine under the Roman Empire, and asked for directions.
They found the baby and Mother Mary in Bethlehem, and gave extravagant gifts. But they got another nudge to go home a different way to avoid another meeting with Herod.
Why does this matter? This season, we have been looking at Christmas as Jesus’ Birthday, not our private party bash. Jesus made a difference in the lives of these three men from another culture, another country, another language. They dropped everything to travel and pray with Jesus. And they were different afterwards. Going home a different way was a big deal. There were only two main roads that went through the area of Palestine/Israel. One went by the Mediterranean Sea, and another on the east before hitting the desert wilderness. Not much room between the sea and desert.
Changing a route was a big deal. Meeting Jesus was a big deal.
The question for us is: does Jesus change us? Do we go in a different path after we encounter Jesus? As we pray for blessings in our new calendar year, let us also pray for a different life. A new way to live and bless others with the blessing Jesus gives us. Amen.
Pastor Anna-Lisa Hunter
January 2, 2024
Interested in more information? Click here to see a post by a Catholic mom who continues to practice this chalk-the-door tradition with her family.