The star has stopped

Matthew 2:11-12

On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

On this feast of Epiphany

what will be the gifts that we bring?

How will we continue to worship the babe in the manger

and honour God with us

while sheltering in place?

We will bring our gold, our frankincense and our myrrh:

The gold of friendship, of reaching out to others

constantly affirming connectedness and belovedness

The frankincense of random acts of kindness, 

permeating community with a spirit of joy in giving and receiving

The myrrh of prayer quietly yet persistently offered

for the healing of the world

And we will remember the danger

for those whose homes are not safe

Those who are locked in loveless relationships

Those who have slipped through the net of benefits provision

Those who have to choose 

between food or heat

Those without digital connectivity

Those juggling work and child care

Praying for wisdom to know

how best to serve and work alongside our neighbour

And what is the other road

we are being called to travel?

Devoid of our usual tools

and places and props

how will we discern

the adventure

to which God beckons?

And how will we

appreciate the moments of the journey

as they unfold

without being distracted

by what might be our destination

using each step along the way

to pause and reflect

to wonder and enquire

to what we are being called

in this time and place.

The star has stopped

and the journey continues

to follow the baby

into danger and challenge

calling out injustice

noising up establishment 

practising impropriety

all in the name of love

and witness to

God with us

Always.