Advent - The journey of the magi
The Journey of the Magi
Close your eyes and Imagine you are standing in a wilderness. You look up and see that the sky is dark and full of bright shining stars. The air is bitterly cold. It's winter and you're wrapped up in warm garments.
Ahead of you is a village, you are feeling weary and tired after your long journey - you long for a rest but there is an excitement within that helps you find the energy to keep on moving forwards, towards the village. You have travelled far, and have been questioned many times about your journey. Questioned about this new baby boy. A king? Some have scoffed at the idea, but others, like King Herod, have seemed cautious. You feel unsure about whether you can trust him. You try to push away the fears of what might happen if you do not return to tell him what you find. You look to your friends beside you who also look weary and drained from the long journey. You look down at your feet which are rough and dry from the hot sand rubbing against them as you walk. It is hard to keep moving forward. This journey has been full of questions, full of searching and struggle. But you continue on, into the night, because this journey feels significant, even if you do not yet fully understand why, you keep pushing forward. Anticipation of the unknown so tangible it feels like it is crackling in the air around you.
You have finally reached the village. You look up to the Stars and feel a slight sense of confusion as the light guiding you is above a small inn on the outskirts. You see a small cavern with candlelight flickering from within. How do you feel when you realise this is the end of your long journey? Is it what you were expecting?
You begin to make your way into the cavern. There is a thick odour in the air and you pass several animals resting in hay beds. As you arrive inside, you stumble upon a man and a women stooped over a wooden trough. Their eyes are glazed, their smiles are beaming, they are whispering softly in hushed tones. You peer into the trough and see a small baby wrapped tightly in swaddling, it's eyes closed, it's chest gently rising and falling with small breaths.
The mother gently speaks to you: "the child’s name is Jesus”
You become aware that there are others beside you. You turn to look and see a few shepherds, weary and dirtied from hard labour, but their faces illuminated with joy and awe. As you gaze around, you are struck by the contrast of people surrounding the baby boy. The intensity mixed with peace in this moment is breath taking.
As the mother welcomes you and your friends closer, you fall to your knees in worship beside the boy and hand over your gift with trembling hands. Polished gold a regal gift fit for a king. Fragrant frankincense, a thick presence that fills the airin your nostrils. Myrrh, an embalming ointment used in preparation for a funeral.
Your gaze returns to the baby. You hear its cry for its mother. You recognise its hunger and desire for comfort. You watch as it gently nests its head against its mother's chest, wrapped up in her embrace. All is quiet. All is calm. All is peace.
- What emotions are you feeling right now?
What part of the story stood out for you? Take a moment to bring these thoughts to God.
Has there been a time when you felt like you were travelling in the unknown? The Magi were searching for a king, and they found a baby. What are you searching for at the moment? Take a moment to share this with God.