Matthew 2: 2
“Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
The Magi were not tourists in search of the most recent lunar eclipse. We travel miles to get to clear evening sky to be able to see the Northern lights, to see eclipses, and some even chase tornadoes. The Magi were different. They were not traveling to verify the truth of the documents that pointed them to the birth of a king and led by the star in the night. Matthew says they openly declared that they came to worship. The journey was a trip to worship, not unlike pilgrims going to Rome and the Vatican or Muslim pilgrims going to Mecca during Ramadan or Jews going to the Wailing Wall to pray. The trip of the Magi is not a weird experience that happened back then. It is a spiritual journey many people of faith take to a “place” that is sacred and might be considered a “thin” place where the seen and the unseen meet.
So where are your “holy places” where you feel close to the divine. As Christians we believe our bodies are the temple of God and prayer at any time can be a meeting place but I must admit I have my special chair that the family knows as “mom’s chair.” Withdrawing and reading Scripture draws us into truth. When pondering the truth of God’s character, reading the Gospels and focusing on the life of Christ, often comforts. When we grieve or even are angry, the Psalms of Lament often bring console. Proverbs’ bite size pieces of truth encourage us to think more deeply about scenarios we are facing. Others love music or nature or meeting with a friend. As Christians who live in the seen but we believe interaction with the unseen God, is possible. Are we journeying to worship God or is it more like paying a phone bill or a wish list to Santa Clause?
Isaiah 55: 6, “Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.”
On the Way to Wonder 