Advent 2025, Day 9
Matthew 2:1-12
Across the world, across kingdoms, across epochs of silence, they wait and watch. Men of power. Kingmakers. Wisdom-wielders. Keepers of dark mystery. They study prophecy and believe it, and they still look for the coming promise, words planted in their kingdom centuries ago by worshippers of the one true God.
What wonderings stir at the appearance of that star? What speculations and debates arise among them? How do they explain it? How long do they discuss, study, argue among themselves as to its meaning and importance?
How easy it would be to dismiss this star as something far away and unexplainable. Something to be wondered at but not understood. Not tangible. But for these men, wondering will never be enough. Their belief and longing compel them to go. They cannot simply watch and wonder. They must know. They must see.
The promise behind that star is so powerful, it drives these men to pilgrimage. Their belief is so firm that they come prepared with kingly gifts. Their faith pushes them across long deserts and weary days. No matter that no one else sees what they see. No matter that others do not understand. No matter that the prophecies are old and largely forgotten. They know what they know. And they cannot rest.
For a faith like this! The coming of the King is not in their midst, but far away and mysterious. And yet they believe it is for them. They are willing to find it, whatever and wherever it is.
These scholars have seen kingdoms rise and fall. They understand ambition. They know gilded halls and great men. And they know a true King when they see one. They understand that holiness can fill a peasant’s hut, that the God of that star is now Immanuel, God with us. The commander of light who comes to be light among us. These men who stand so tall in the world now collapse in reverence for the One they have been searching for.
What story will they carry back to their country? What will they tell of this King? Maybe they will spread the word of him far and wide to a people who don’t understand or don’t care. Whatever they do, they will have this joy to hold close. This coming of the light into their darkness, this answer to their long-held hope.
For the others in this first Advent, Christ comes among them, right there with them whether they want him or not. But these men see his coming from afar, and they chase it down. They come on purpose to see, to touch, to know. And to worship.
Sometimes he shows up and plants himself right there with you. But sometimes he gives you a star to follow, and the journey to find him is long. If you are watching, if you believe, you will see him show up in your darkness. If you are wise, you will go. You will find him. The light will pull you, and your pilgrimage will be worship.
View from the Valley 