Reflection for a Winter Morning

Worship service has been cancelled this morning due to a combination of snow, wind, and cold weather.  So, for those of you hungering for a little something spiritual today, here's a bit of scripture, a song and a prayer.

Tomorrow is Epiphany, which traditionally commemorates the arrival of the three magi in Bethlehem to lay eyes on the infant Jesus.  So, on the Sunday closest to Epiphany, we focus on the three magi and the star which guided them to the newborn messiah.  (This was also the planned sermon for today, which I imagine I will preach next Sunday.)

Stars have the potential to be signs throughout the Bible, sometimes of good things and sometimes of bad things.  Today, we think of positive omens in the heavens, such as the beginning of Psalm 148, where the stars join with the heavenly chorus in praising God:

     Praise the Lord!
     Praise the Lord from the heavens;
        praise him in the heights!
     Praise him, all his angels;
        praise him, all his host!
     Praise him, sun and moon;
        praise him, all you shining stars!
     Praise him, you highest heavens,
        and you waters above the heavens!
     Let them praise the name of the Lord,
        for he commanded and they were created.
     He established them forever and ever;
        he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.  (Psalm 148:1-6, New Revised Standard Version)

As Job 38 makes clear, the stars witnessed much of creation (having been made before much of the things on earth) and rejoiced in the creation of this planet.  And we humans join with all of God's creation in praising God -- at least we should.  Even on this cold snowy day, when the world does not seem quite as alive or vibrant, we should join together in praising God.

Stars are also a metaphor in the scriptures, and Jesus himself is referred to as the morning star in Revelation 22.  This has many to believe that Jesus fulfilled the promise of Numbers 22 -- a star shall come out of Jacob and a scepter shall rise from Israel.  This understanding of Jesus was best expressed (at least for me) in music by Felix Mendelssohn, in his unfinished work, Christus.  He wrote a marvelous choral piece called "Behold a Star from Jacob Shining," and I happened to find a decent recording on YouTube:


And now, a prayer on this winter's day:

Gracious and loving God, who made the stars to be a sign for the magi seeking the Christ, we give you thanks for this world and our place in it.  We thank you also for those who have come before us, like the three magi, who have set an example to be open to your promises and your guidance in seeking those promises.  Allow us to be open to you and to your leading, whether by stars or scripture or other people of faith.  Inspire us again to seek for the Christ and guide us to the birthplace of Jesus, reminding us of the hope, peace, and love you wish for us.  And then lead us to follow Jesus in being people of that same hope, peace, and love in this world.  We pray this in Christ's name, Amen.