We are going to close out the year by looking at 25 posts on Mary and Joseph for Advent. Part 13: Mary and the Wise Men.
Matthew 2:9-11 (NLT)
9 After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! 11 They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Dear God,
When I read this story this morning, I asked myself, “What kind of a day has it been?” Aaron Sorkin has used that as an episode title for at least four TV episodes he wrote. Every day is filled with so much, and we miss most of it. But this day for Mary must have been amazing. We are not sure how old Jesus is here, but some time has passed because they are now in a house. That tells me that they had established their lives in Bethlehem at that point. They had either figured out a way to get their own house or they were living with someone else. Either way, they were set up.
I am sure the day started like any other day. She fed and changed Jesus. She kissed Joseph goodbye as he went to work. Who knows what she was going through that day. Maybe they were trying to figure out how to pay for some things. Then a knock at the door and there are some men with gifts. They were there to worship her baby and bring gifts to him. What a surreal moment for her. Maybe it was even an encouragement. I have seen my wife go through the doldrums of those first few months of having a new baby. Even the first couple of years can be hard. But then you sent her these guys. And I have wondered for several years now if these gifts helped finance their trip to Egypt. It makes sense—especially the gold. I think you were providing for them when they had no idea what was around the corner.
Father, I love the idea that Mary and Joseph were just a couple of regular parents facing the psychological, mental, physical, and spiritual challenges that all of us face. You had them on a need-to-know basis, just like you do with me and the rest of us. In their case, they needed to be reassured that they had not been mistaken when they heard Gabriel’s messages. This was one more event that would carry them through what was to come—from a mental, spiritual, and psychological standpoint. Please help me to recognize when you are doing the same for me. And thank you for all that you are doing.
I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,
Amen
