presence

Thursday January 2^nd, Matthew 2: 9 After the wise men heard the king, they left. The star that they had seen in the east went before them until it stopped above the place where the child was.10 When the wise men saw the star, they were filled with joy.11 They came to the house where the child was and saw him with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. They opened their gifts and gave him treasures of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.12 But God warned the wise men in a dream not to go back to Herod, so they returned to their own country by a different way.  There is a tale that the star that guided the wise men was not a star but the presence of God, the presence of Christ who shone before them and led them on the way.  This gift of the Lord’s leading; the Lord’s calling in life is indeed that light that outshines all other gifts in our lives.  God’s leading brought them from a faraway land, it led them to the seat of power in the world.  Not political, or military or monetary power, but the creative power of love that comes from God.  You too can be open to this power of love that will lead and guide you through life.  You too can open your hearts to the love of God as your guide.  It may not bring you riches, it may even cause you to give away some of the riches you have, but it will be far more valuable for it is the power of love.  In this new year ahead of you, let the power of God’s love guide you in what you do in this world.