This was written last year as a reflection to lead in to a Stories group encounter, sharing their experiences with a group of teachers and inviting them to reflect on how we welcome travellers from afar ... It is, yes, a reflection on the journey and arrival of the magi, but primarily a thinly veiled reflection on the journeys and arrival of people seeking sanctuary. I failed to post it last year, and am already late posting it this year, but I want to put it here at some point, and refuse to leave it in my drafts folder until 2027!
'Today' is the day when we celebrate the arrival of the Magi in Bethlehem, possibly to the stable, possibly to whatever humble abode the holy family went to next.
We don't exactly know, but the Magi were, most likely, Zoroastrians from Persia … Gentiles, foreigners who looked to the stars for wisdom, who wore strange clothes, spoke strange languages, and worshipped strange gods.
Gentiles, foreigners who were guided towards this God expressed in vulnerable incarnation. Who travelled great distances, who poured out their gifts.
Gentiles, foreigners who went away by a different route, who were forever changed by their encounter with the infant Jesus.
Imagine seeing the star
Imagine a light that tells you something new is promised. Imagine conversations about whether to follow, or to wait and see.
Would you stay … or would you dare to go?
(Pause)
Imagine setting out on a journey
Imagine not knowing where the journey is leading but trusting in the promise. Imagine crossing borders, going beyond known realities. Imagine holding on to the hope through all the struggles along the way.
Would you keep going … or would you give up?
(Pause)
Imagine arriving at what you thought was your destination only to realise it wasn’t what you thought
Imagine the hope, and the disappointment. Imagine the conversations, the looking for answers, imagine not knowing the motivations of those purporting to help.
Would you press on … or would you stop here?
(Pause)
Imagine arriving, expecting a king and finding a stable
Imagine the star guiding you to the most unexpected of places. Imagine reaching your destination. Imagine it looking like this. Imagine the doubt, and the hope in the promise.
Would you question its validity … or would you accept this reality?
(Pause)
Imagine strangers arriving at the door
Imagine seeing the star
Imagine a light that tells you something new is promised. Imagine conversations about whether to follow, or to wait and see.
Would you stay … or would you dare to go?
(Pause)
Imagine setting out on a journey
Imagine not knowing where the journey is leading but trusting in the promise. Imagine crossing borders, going beyond known realities. Imagine holding on to the hope through all the struggles along the way.
Would you keep going … or would you give up?
(Pause)
Imagine arriving at what you thought was your destination only to realise it wasn’t what you thought
Imagine the hope, and the disappointment. Imagine the conversations, the looking for answers, imagine not knowing the motivations of those purporting to help.
Would you press on … or would you stop here?
(Pause)
Imagine arriving, expecting a king and finding a stable
Imagine the star guiding you to the most unexpected of places. Imagine reaching your destination. Imagine it looking like this. Imagine the doubt, and the hope in the promise.
Would you question its validity … or would you accept this reality?
(Pause)
Imagine strangers arriving at the door
Imagine strangers who look and sound different to anyone you have ever known. Strangers from well beyond your sphere of experience. Imagine the sights, sounds, smells they bring with them.
Do you hesitate … or throw open the door in welcome?
(Pause)
Imagine knowing, or hoping, you had found what you were looking for, and pouring out your gifts trusting they will be received
Imagine the encounter between strangers with seemingly nothing in common, no shared culture, language, faith. Imagine finding a way to make a connection. Imagine gifts, poured out in that space.
Do you know what you would give… and what you would receive?
(Pause)
Imagine the gift of gold
Imagine gifts of material wealth. The wealth of money and stuff, but also of time and of talents.
What gold do you bring … what gold are you ready to receive?
(Pause)
Imagine the gift of frankincense
Imagine gifts that speaks of God. Imagine gifts which invite a different and deeper understanding of the divine.
What incense do you bring… what incense are you ready to receive?
(Pause)
Imagine the gift of myrrh
Imagine gifts overlaid with the sadness of suffering. Imagine gifts which come wrapped in stories of pain, gifts which offer and demand sacrificial love.
What myrrh do you bring … what myrrh are you ready to receive?
(Pause)
Imagine Magi
Imagine the Holy family
Imagine strangers bearing gifts
Imagine them welcomed and accepted
Imagine that this is where we find God is revealed
And then imagine that inherent in the revelation
Is a call
To change
To go back by another way
Would you take it?
Is a call
To change
To go back by another way
Would you take it?
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