I will be the first one to tell you that I am impatient, especially when it comes to divine action. It is as if I believe God is a barista at your local coffee shop who you order from and then a few minutes later, there it is a frothy divine beauty sitting right in front of you.
In all seriousness, waiting on God has been my largest struggle in my faith journey. In fact, while I was in seminary it was, “the struggle” of my life. I was dating a wonderful woman, I felt called to be a pastor working with youth, and I believed I had the right skills, but I could not find the right job. There were many times where I thought, God is calling me here, yet he was not. In the midst of everything I really struggled with my calling and how God interacted with the world.
Before I got hired at my first church out of seminary, I spent some time unemployed and not doing much of anything. During this time of hardship I decided to dive into my discomfort and ask God what I could learn from this situation.
Through a lot of talking with friends and family, prayer, and time in scripture, I felt God tell me, I am teaching you to trust in me.
In the Christmas story found in the gospel of Matthew 2, a group of people known as the Magi go in search of God’s divine action found with the birth of a baby named, Jesus.
One night while the Magi were studying the stars, they saw a star that caught their eyes, a star that is different, almost new. Some Biblical scholars believe that these Magi were people who were star lookers, or people who studied the stars to determine events in the world, similar to modern day astrologists.
Once these first century astrologists saw this new star, they realized that something special was happening, so they set out on a journey to discern what God was doing. They noted the location of the star and took heed toward where God was guiding them.
What amazes me about these Magi is that they were disciplined at looking for signs and looking to see what might be happening in the world. The magi were so disciplined that on the night of Jesus’s birth they looked up into the sky and noticed something different, a divine sign.
This makes me wonder how many divine signs I might be missing in my busy life…
What many people fail to realize about the Christmas story found in Matthew is that the Magi did not show up to the manger at the time of the birth, they came to Mary’s “house” (Matthew 2:11).
The Magi were not present at the manger, despite what nativity sets say. In fact, scholars believe that the Magi traveled over a year to arrive at the doorstep of the King of the Jews. A YEAR!
I don’t know about you, but that is some trust and faith in God’s divine action!
I have to wonder how many times during that year, plus long journey the Magi asked themselves, did we really see that star? I mean, it could have just been a fluke or something. I wonder how many times they doubted on their journey toward God’s divine action in the world.
One of the beautiful things about Matthew’s Christmas story is the Magi. The Magi believed in a God who interacts with his creation, who called them in divine signs, and who trusted that after their long journey they would arrive to where they were called.
Prayer:
LORD, I thank you for the sign of your Son.
For the gift that he is to our world
LORD, I thank you for the gift of faith that I might see your Son for who he truly is.
In the times of trouble and ease, may you help me to trust in you as the Magi did.
This Christmas and throughout my life, may you help me look for your divine signs of action in the world.
Clear my mind and give me a heart focused on your work in the world.
May you give me eyes to see your work in the world.
May you give me eyes to see how you want me to partner with your work in the world.
Empower your Church to be a sign of your divine action in the world.
May your Kingdom be made manifest as you work through your Spirit and people in the world.
Amen.
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