After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
…When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born…After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
[Matthew 2: 1–4, 9–11]
This week we have celebrated Epiphany, the manifestation of God to those who were not Jews. The Magi travelled many miles searching for a child; they didn’t know where they would end up or who they would meet. They didn’t even know how long it would take to get there – yet they set out to find God.
As we journey into the New Year, let us do so with the determination of the Magi. We don’t know what the New Year will bring or where we may end up, but we can choose to go on the journey with our God. The Magi lost sight of the star and they became lost – and we too may wander from the path and get lost. The Magi met Herod, who tried to mislead them with his intentions; we may also meet people who try to distract or mislead us.
Yet like the Magi, we can find our way back – they found the star again – and can get back on the road with God. We don’t know what the challenges of the year ahead may be, yet if we keep our focus on God, we will have God’s love and guidance to help us in whatever we face.
God of the Magi
We thank you that like you guided the Magi with a star
You guide us on the path you would have us take
Protect us from those who would mislead us
Lighten our path, guide our journey
Help us to know you are with us along the way
Amen
You can download this Prayer for the Week here
Weekly Prayers for January 2021 written by Revd Claire Rawlinson
Image: magi – photo by Robert Thiemann on Unsplash
