March 28 - Wise Men

Matthew 2 is the story of the Wisemen following the star to find Jesus, and of the subsequent flight of Joseph, Mary and Jesus to Egypt and later return to Nazareth.

Pastor Tari gave me this reference when she asked me to write a devotion, and it confused me at first. A Christmas story during Lent? What was this story telling me for current times…i.e. rich mystics riding through the desert to pay tribute to a special occasion? A jealous leader killing all potential rivals? …??? After reading through it a few times, however, a different focus appeared – the role of Joseph. I realized that Joseph’s character doesn’t appear often, and only at the beginning of Jesus’ life. He is a carpenter, a skilled tradesman but likely not academically knowledgeable. He appears to be ethical and kind-hearted as he thinks he should forego marriage to his pregnant fiancée. Later he gathers his new family in the dead of night and goes to Egypt and later returns to Nazareth, a different town, in order to maintain their safety – all decisions that probably were uncomfortable for him and left him in places without family or friends for support. Quietly, he was the right person at the right time.

The common and unusual thread among these decisions is that they are the consequences of directives he received in dreams and his trust and faith to act on this guidance. I imagine as a carpenter, Joseph was pretty comfortable with routine and concrete instructions so this method of communication and resulting disruption to his daily life was highly unusual. Somehow, based on this new information, he had the discernment to act appropriately, and it saved the lives of his family.

Dear Lord, we pray for the openness to receive what you are telling us – regardless of the method – and the willingness and ability to act faithfully in your service. Amen

Hymn: “Open My Eyes, That I May See” (The Other Song Book, #159)
Open my eyes, that I may see glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key that shall unclasp, and set me free
Silently now I wait for Thee, ready, my God, thy will to see;
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!
Open my ears, that I may hear voices of truth Thou sendest clear;
And while the wavenotes fall on my ear, everything false will disappear,
Silently now I wait for Thee, ready, my God, Thy will to see
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!
Open my mouth, and let me bear gladly the warm truth everywhere;
Open my heart, and let me prepare love with Thy children thus to share.
Silently now I wait for Thee, ready, my God, thy will to see;
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!

Link to Bible verses: Matthew 2

Photo: "Holy Family," by Modesto Faustini, 1890. (Wikimedia Commons)