Pause

The Christ child is born!
All you who would find him,
prepare for a journey, as determined as the Magi.
All you who would praise him,
come with the faith to follow but a star.
All you who would worship him,
come with humility to the child
who shows forth the immeasurable riches of God.

Based on Matthew 2:1-12, from A Worship Sourcebook

Listen

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’”

Matthew 2:1-6

Think

A star led the wise men to Bethlehem, a light leading them to the Light of the World. As we seek to follow Christ and reflect that light, our journey is sometimes made easier by others who provide that starlight to guide our way.

Friends, pastors, parents, and mentors help us to seek out God and God’s will for our lives; a faith community is essential to our spiritual growth and deepening faith. While our faith is personal, it is not private, and we need one another to grow as people of God.

Who has helped you grow in faith? How can you be a star for others who seek the Light of the World?

Joann Lee

Pray

Thank you, God, for those who have helped me in my faith journey, and thank you for the great cloud of witnesses who encourage me to persevere in faith. Help me to lead others to you, just as the star led the wise men to Jesus. Amen.

Go

See the child,
Gentle and kind,
Vision of God,
Image of the Divine.

Be the child,
Prepared to see
Images of God,
And all that will be.

All that will be.