Advent, week 4

Here's Fourth Sunday of Advent

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT – MAGI

3 PURPLE AND ONE PINK CANDLE

Scripture: Mt 2:1-12

1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

3When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5"In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:
6" 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"

7Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

LIGHT 3 PURPLE CANDLES AND ONE PINK

The wise men had been seeking the One born King of the Jews. No one knows from what country they came or what studies led them to leave home seeking. It is clear that God wanted them to find the Baby because He put signs in the heavens and in ancient prophecies that lead them, enabling them to find. God’s Word tells us to seek Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. We are to seek God in the morning, and continually. He calls us to seek His face while humbly turning from our wicked ways. If we seek God and His Kingdom above all else, the promise is repeated often: God will be found and He will hear, heal and provide. Christmas is God’s answer to the longing and searching of every man, woman and child.

PRAYER: Jesus, like the wise men we come seeking You, sometimes from far places. You are behind us, before us, underneath us, above us and in us. In You we live and move and have our fullest being. Thank you for your perfect plan which reveals Your love more and more as we search for You. Amen.