The Shining Star: Day 1

Theme: Isaiah foretells the coming of the wise men; kings who will bring gifts and fall down and worship the Christ child. The wise men come to Bethlehem from the East, following a star and seeking the newborn Jesus. On arriving, they rejoice and worship him. Through God's grace in sending Christ for us, we are given the mystery of the salvation of humanity.

Opening Prayer: Epiphany: "Almighty and everlasting God, who has made known the incarnation of your Son by the bright shining of a star, which, when the wise men beheld, they presented costly gifts and adored your majesty; grant that the star of your righteousness may always shine into our hearts; and that, as our treasure, we may give ourselves and all we possess to your service; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." The Gelasian Sacramentary

OT Reading: Isaiah 60:1-6 

Reflections from the Church Fathers: "And the Logos, exhorting us to come to this light, says, in the prophecies of Isaiah, 'Enlighten yourself, enlighten yourself. O Jerusalem; for your light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.' Observe now the difference between the fine phrases of Plato respecting the 'chief good' and the declarations of our prophets regarding the 'light' of the blessed; and notice that the truth as it is contained in Plato concerning the subject did not at all help his readers to attain to a pure worship of God, not even himself, who could philosophize so grandly about the 'chief good,' whereas the simple language of the Scriptures led to their honest readers being filled with a divine spirit; and this light is nourished within them by the oil, which in a certain parable is said to have preserved the light of the torches of the five wise virgins." Against Celsus 6.5, Origen.

For Further Reflection and Prayer
1. Re Isaiah 60:2, do you notice that darkness covers the earth? Amongst your friends and community at Penn, how do you see darkness covering the earth and peoples?
2. Isaiah 60:4 and 5 state that the Messiah's heart would swell and throb with joy when He saw sons and daughters assembling about him. Have you thought about that? That you make Jesus' heart swell with joy? How does this impact you?
3. The wise men brought costly gifts of gold and incense. Why did they do that? Do you bring costly gifts to Jesus? What are your reasons for doing so?

From Ancient Christian Devotional ed. by Thomas C. Oden and Cindy Crosby