TOO LATE FOR CHRISTMAS |
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ASTRO: Greek for Star
ASTROLOGY: The study of the influence of heavenly bodies on human affairs. Obsolete, the Science of Astronomy.
ASTRONOMY: (Star Naming) Science with the material universe beyond Earth's atmosphere.
MAGI: Zoroastrian priests in Media/Persia.
Worship of a Supreme god, Mazda,
(god of light) of Lucifer angel of light.
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TRAVEL: Imagine hiking from here to the far side of Nebraska, 150 years ago. Hostile Indians and no U.S. Cavalry. There were no towns, forts or accommodations. No compass, no clock, no AAA club. No fast food places, no water to wash your hands. (The Arabs use sand.)
From Ur to Bethlehem was like a trip to the moon. No one man could make it. It took money, back up, armed escort and logistic support. Each camel carries a water jug from his neck.
Caravans are made up of several parties. Some may join along the way. Others will separate to different destinations, when safe to do so. The Magi were above the working class. They could spend all night watching the heavens. They could read and write and share ideas. They influenced our culture with domed churches. (Many times Congregational or Unitarian Churches use the Dome of Heaven.) We use the steeple, pointing to God.
I have looked up at the blue painted, star studded, rounded vaults under Egyptian pyramids. The constellations of the Zodiac are there!
The Magi saw the slow whirl of the stars above them and the repeated pattern of the years. They looked for the circle of the seasons and the rise and fall of nations. They could use the stars to plot their travel as well. It is puzzling that Astrologers were used by God to mark His Son's birth, fund and allow His escape to Egypt.
Just as puzzling, the word Astrology used to mean Astronomy. These men from the other side of the Fertile Crescent were fortunetellers, soothsayers. They practiced divination and sorcery. These very practices were condemned in the Old Testament.
Their worship of the new king resulted in the slaughter of the innocents in and around Bethlehem. Their cooperation with God allowed the Child to escape into Egypt.
These magicians fooled people and they were mistrusted and feared. The Bible Story is told in 12 verses. The characters are not named or even numbered. The Star is not explained. V16 is easy to understand. How angry Herod was! Tricked by the Magicians. God does things like this, Using tricksters to trick Herod who was tricking them!
We Christians add to this puzzle by telescoping the Magi into Christmas. We know better, but it is more convenient to speed up the caravan and bring the gold into the stable. Is this a serious error? Do we give gifts because of God's Gift of His Son? Or do we give because of the Magi, who weren't there?
God set the stage for the Nativity. He used the Angels and the stars for publicity. Shepherds were His eye witnesses. He then cleared the stage of it all. We see just the Child, Mary and Joseph. This was Christmas until Charles Dickens in old England gave us Tiny Tim, Holly and snow. Then Clement Clark added the fat man, his pipe, reindeer and toys as he wrote, ÒA Christmas Carol.Ó Later, in our own time Walt Disney added another reindeer!
When we attend "The Glory of Christmas", in Garden Grove, we see a Circus Parade with the Christ Child sharing the stage with a cast of a hundred, while over-head, women sail on strands of wire.
This Child grew up to cleanse the Temple by throwing out the moneychangers.
It is past, time that we muck out the stable! Re-focus on the STAR, the real Star that lights the world. The real Gift that God gave. Priceless above the Magis' gold
As the New Testament ends, we are warned not to add to or to take away from the Word. We cannot blame Dickens, Clark or Disney for what Christians have done to themselves and their children.
Just try to explain to that growing child, that Christ is real but that Santa Claus is a myth!
Best, Newcomb |
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