Month: December 2023

We only know a little about the actual journey of the Magi, but it’s safe to assume that it was long and arduous. When they started their journey, they believed their destination was Jerusalem. But after arriving in Jerusalem and speaking with King Herod, it became clear that they had not yet arrived at their… Continue reading Advent 2023- 12/10/23

Where The Map Begins, by Jan Richardson This is notany map you know.Forget longitude.Forget latitude.Do not thinkof distancesor of plottingthe most direct route.Astrolabe, sextant, compass:these will not help you here. This is the mapthat begins with a star.This is the chartthat starts with fire,with blazingwith an ancient lightthat has outlastedgenerations, empires,cultures, wars. Look starward once,then… Continue reading Advent 2023- 12/9/23

Why A Star? Why is there a star in the Magi story? In Matthew’s time, the star would have had several layers of significance. Stars and other celestial phenomena were often associated with powerful, influential people. The symbolism of stars was used by Roman emperors to legitimize their claims to power, as well as to… Continue reading Advent 2023- 12/8/23

There Weren’t Three Magi? Were you shocked when I stated that Matthew didn’t specify three Magi? I was astonished when I was doing research and first saw that claim. I had to go back and reread those Bible verses. A few times. The text says there were three gifts, but doesn’t specify how many Magi… Continue reading Advent 2023- 12/7/23

What’s With the Funny Hats? According to Eric Vanden Eykel’s research (from his book, The Magi), depictions of the Magi have always shown them in distinctive hats. Historians tell us that in Roman art, the “Phrygian cap” was a popular way of indicating that the depicted person was from somewhere in the Eastern Mediterranean region.… Continue reading Advent 2023- 12/6/23

Imagining the Call Barbara Brown Taylor (an Episcopal priest and writer) imagines the call of the Magi in her book, Home by Another Way. “Once upon a time there were three – yes, three – very wise men who were all sitting in their own countries minding their own business when a bright star lodged… Continue reading Advent 2023- 12/5/23

The Tradition of Befana In Italy, an Epiphany gift-giving tradition called “Befana” includes the figure of a woman named Befana. The story goes that the Magi, following the Star and on their way to find the Christ Child, stayed one night at the home of a hard-working older woman, Befana. She took excellent care of… Continue reading Advent 2023- 12/4/23

Sometimes, the hardest part of a journey is having the courage to begin. It requires both faith and hope. Matthew 2:1-6 (New American Bible) When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews?… Continue reading Advent 2023- 12/3/23