Dear HBIC Family,

A few years ago, a good friend contacted me about a special project she was working on called The Manger Mission. She was writing a children’s book aimed at telling the Christmas story, but with a tradition that may be new to some families. The book was centered on the Magi of Matthew 2, their journey to visit the baby Jesus and family in Jerusalem, and lessons that we can all learn in preparation, anticipation, and celebration of Christ’s coming. 

As part of the background research for the book, my friend asked me what I knew about the Magi and what resources could I share to further her research. This actually started both of us on a journey to learn more. We quickly realized that much of what we were taught about the Magi was due to our traditions, not Scripture. For example, the notion that there were three Magi who were kings from the East is tradition, and not clearly stated in Matthew.

From the Eastern Christians, we learned that the three Magi have been traditionally called Melchior, Caspar, and Balthasar. Some Christian traditions also assign the kings to different empires. Balthasar is often represented as a king of Arabia or sometimes Ethiopia, Melchior as a king of Persia, and Gaspar as a king of India. All traditions though are founded on what we learn from Matthew: The Magi came from the East led by a star to find, worship, and present gifts to Christ the King. 

Throughout Advent, we have focused on how encountering “God with us” impacts us. From the prophets, we learned that our hope can be founded on what God has done and what God will do. From the angels, we learned that our peace is gifted by God to us and for us today. From the shepherds, we learned of the joy found in celebrating God’s blessings as we leave the safe and comfortable to seek out the sacred. This Sunday, we will conclude our Advent Series (Encountering Emmanuel) by focusing on Love.

As you prepare for this week’s services, I would like to invite you to read and meditate on Matthew 2:1-12. As you reflect, I would like to ask you to focus on the following questions:

• How did you first hear about Jesus?
• What signs in your life have called you to seek after God?
• When was the last time you sat in God’s presence? 
• What is one way you have experienced God’s love? 
• What is one way you can share God’s love with others?

The story of the incarnation is a reminder that God is with us. This is why we celebrate that God has come through Jesus’ birth at Advent. We celebrate and welcome that God comes to us each day. And we celebrate and anticipate that Christ will come again, as King. 

Encountering Emmanuel reminds us that, in our faith, we serve a God who gave up heaven to come to earth. It reminds us that we worship a God who died so that we can now truly live. It reminds us that we submit to a God who transforms us out of who we were, and into who God desires us to be. The story of the Magi shows again that God worked intentionally to welcome Jesus, to change the world, and to show us what love really looks like. 

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise God who loves us here below. Praise God who has come, who is coming, and who will come again, for us!

Love in Christ,

Pastor Hank (Matthew 5:1-2)