by: Bishop Tessa Moon Leiseth
January 2, 2025
Matthew 2: 1-12
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, magi from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star in the east and have come to pay him homage.” 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him, 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They 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 magi and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then 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.” 9 When they had heard the king, they set out, and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen in the east, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On 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. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
One of my favorite Biblical stories is the story of the magi who came to find baby Jesus and worship him (Matthew 2:1-12). I’m not sure why this story has pulled at me over the years. Maybe it’s because of the popularized images of camels across the desert. Maybe it’s the tension and danger of Herod who seeks Jesus not to worship him but because he is considered a threat. Maybe it is the mystery as to who exactly these magi were.
Over the years, I have gotten curious about the journey the magi must have made to find Jesus. And through that curiosity, I learned about caravansaries – ancient structures along the trade routes that were walled-in courtyards, providing protection and shelter for overnight accommodation to travelers and their animals. I began to imagine the magi and their camels making the long journey to baby Jesus, staying overnight in these ancient caravansaries.
Those magi. What did they encounter on their way to Jesus? What was their spiritual hunger and curiosity that compelled them to travel far? What was their wisdom to know that Herod was not interested in finding the baby Jesus to worship him? And what did they see when they came to pay baby Jesus homage?
I like to imagine the magi on their way home – choosing a new route, having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod (vs. 12). I imagine them staying in a caravansary each night, gathering with other travelers around a fire in the central courtyard. I like to imagine them telling their stories about this baby Jesus, the joy they experienced (vs. 10), and the gifts they offered him (vs. 11).
Already, the stories about Jesus the savior are spreading across the land, so soon after his birth. This story comes to us, too. It surrounds us in the Christmas season in music and images. And now on Epiphany, we remember the magi from the east who traveled to worship baby Jesus, just as we continue to worship him today.
Blessed Epiphany to you!
Bishop Tessa Moon Leiseth 