Welcome to the third module of our online Advent recollection this year. If you haven’t done the first or second one, click HERE.
Our third Advent companions don’t show up in the Gospel until after Christmas, but they were certainly persons of Advent: Long before the birth of Jesus, they had waited. They scanned the night sky, searching for that one sign that would lead them to the King of the Jews.
Mistakenly known as “the Three Kings,” the Wise Men–or Magi–were scientists/astrologers who believed that an important turning point in human history would be signalled by a celestial phenomenon.
They must have studied their sources and scrutinized the heavens for years before stumbling over what we now call the Star of Bethlehem. They believed and they set out on their journey to pay homage to the King.
Let us revisit the well-known passage that tells their story. Again, recall that we need to read Scripture mindfully and prayerfully, reading between the lines and using our imagination.
If you wish, you may play this instrumental piece to assist you in prayerful reading. Be mindful of what detail strikes you in any way, whether it surprises you or even disturbs you.
Before you proceed, pause here for a moment: What struck you–and why?
If you are going through this online recollection with a companion, this would be a good time to share with each other.
Music: Julian Lloyd Webber’s “L’ Heure Exquise”