Saddle up your Camel
Some of you may be getting tired of Christmas Carols, the red and green palette, and white-bearded reindeer racer already. Some of us have been finding ways to wait and watch in eager preparation before we welcome the Christ Child on the first day of Christmas. Then for 12 Christmas Days we keep the party rolling until the the arrival of the Magi from the East. They came to welcome the newborn king, which was more than a little disturbing to the nearby authority who was in the habit of calling himself king.
There are a variety of estimates of how long the Magi, or wisemen, or three kings traveled, following yonder star to pay homage to the child of Mary. They all agree it was a haul; probably more than 12 days, but it helps us to tell the story this way. Our Magi figureines are already making that journey. Now they are settled near the doors of our church and they will hop from the oblation table to the piano, then to the baptismal font, and finally to the nativity scene set in our altar where they will remind us who the true king of all Creation is.
Years ago, some of my friends hosted a annual 12th Night party, at which people would bring eastern-inspired foods to share, and at some point three party guests dressed up in sparkling robes and would walk though singing that favored hymn (128 in our Hymnal.) "O star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright; westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light!"
Even if you are worn out by world's version of Christmas, find a way to mark that 12th Night of Christmas on January 5. Read the story of the arrival of the Magi (it comes early in Matthew's Gospel) and how it unsettled powers and principalities. Take is as an opportunity to refocus your homage away from whatever power or principality distracts you so that you can reorient to follow the star to the perfect light.
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