December 23, 2012

Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent and during worship, we will light the fourth candle on the Advent wreath.  This candle reminds us of the light of the star which guided the Wise Men to the place where Jesus lay.  Matthew shares the story of their journey to worship the Christ-child.  "2In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men^* from the East came to Jerusalem, ²asking, 'Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising,^* and have come to pay him homage.' ³When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; ⁴and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah^* was to be born.

 

⁵They told him, 'In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
⁶"And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,   are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler   who is to shepherd^* my people Israel." 7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men^* and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. ⁸Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, 'Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.' ⁹When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising,^* until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰When they saw that the star had stopped,^* they were overwhelmed with joy. ¹¹On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹²And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another way.

                       

The Light of the World has come.  Come, let us go to Bethlehem.  Let us behold him. Let

us adore him, for he is Christ the Lord.

 

Hymn:  O Come, All Ye Faithful

 

            O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,

            O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem!

            Come, and behold him, born the King of angels!

 

            O come, let us adore him,

            O come, let us adore him,

            O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!

 

Prayer:

            O God of light and hope and joy and love, shine the light of your grace upon us as we complete our Advent journey.  Guide us as you guided the wise men that we, too, may worship the Christ Child and give you glory and praise.  Amen.