It was very much question of "follow that star" in order to find the location of tonight's garage in Sanderstead Court - although the beautiful recorded music of a Salvation Army band playing familiar Christmas carols also provided a pretty good guide!
When we arrived we were treated to an amazing display of treasures, reminding us of the gifts which wise men brought to the infant Christ.
The story of the Magi is peculiar to Matthew's gospel, although there's a similar story in the Old Testament in 1 Kings 10: 1-13 which records the visit, homage and gifts of a foreign dignitary to the Son if David, King of the Jews. Magi are generally believed to have had their origin in the name of an ancient Persian priestly caste, but the name also came to be used for magicians and astrologers - practitioners of sophisticated science among the Gentiles in Babylonia and Palestine. If this group originated in Babylonia, their journey was quite a long one of some 4 months duration. They were on a journey of faith. Interestingly, instead of following the star directly to Bethlehem, they appear to have taken a diversion bias Jerusalem and remained there for a while, stopping to ask directions of...King Herod, of all people!
We are familiar with the gifts they brought - Gold,Frankincense and Myrrh. Each had its own special significance, full of symbolism and prophetic meaning. Gold was only ever fit for a King, signifying royalty; Frankincense was an expensive resin that burned in the temple at the time of prayer. And Myrrh, another expensive resin, was used for embalming, signifying the death that Jesus would, in time, have to face.
They came, bringing their gifts to the side of the manger - precious gifts of immense value and symbolism, which provides a challenge through the ages for all of us. What is the best we can give to Jesus? Are we willing to bring to him the very best of everything we have, and lay it down in homage at his feet?
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