Wilmot First Presbyterian Church

Scripture: Matthew 2:9-10

Star of Bethlehem

Ever listen to jazz music? I confess I don’t really care for much of it and the reason is because I’m just not musically mature enough. Jazz is about improvising on a theme and it makes me uncomfortable because I don’t know where the music is going (and apparently I like to know these things!) Well, I know the artist is going to get back to the melody I recognize sooner or later, but when I’m listening I usually find myself hoping for sooner. Jazz is perhaps not the music of choice for type A personalities with control issues. The star of Bethlehem presents problems as well.

In the Gospel of Matthew, God announces the birth of the Son with a star. People with a lot of time on their hands may debate whether it was an actual star (a supernova perhaps?) or a comet, or a confluence of planets and other celestial phenomena, or I would venture there is someone trying to sell a story to the History channel about aliens and an UFO!

The silliness of such a debate is that it just doesn’t matter much. The point is that the creation is God’s to use and God uses it to alert whoever is willing and able to take notice (“those who have eyes, let them see!”) One of the difficulties we don’t often appreciate about a star or other celestial sign as a guide however is that it is problematic for a street address. It is a general alert, a general direction. We see this in the Magi popping in on Herod and asking where is this “king of the Jews?”

A star requires those who sail by her to make the minor course adjustments, and this leaves some room for error, or improvisation, as a jazz musician might “note” (ha!) Certainly there were others in the world who saw some sign in the heavens and it would appear these Magi must have discussed it with others. They were not bashful in mentioning it to Herod at least, I imagine they were similarly unabashed at home. All we know is that these Magi were moved enough by it to go on this fool’s errand to find the source of this celestial melody.

I imagine others might have come on the trip but the impracticality of it all can be quite persuasive. I want to pursue God, but I want a map. I want the notes written out. I want a guarantee. I want assurances. I want God to consult me first, not a star with room for error or improvisation along the way. It seem pretty obvious that one message of the star is that God is in control and this is bigger than a Messiah for just the Jews, but there are other messages in this music. Like the guidance of a star, the journey of faith isn’t a neat and clean map noting all the trials and triumphs.

My experience has been such that each every time I have asked God for some specific guidance or direction, I receive some general guidance or direction. If I have difficult decisions to make in my life, I want God to micro-manage them note for note. What I hear, however, is God humming a tune, slow, steady and warm in my ear. I, ill equipped as I am, am called and invited to fill in the rest. I don’t like general guidance but God seems to be so partial to it I can only assume it must be for my good, or that I am not mature enough in my faith to perceive or appreciate it.

I struggle with jazz music, and I struggle with jazz faith. What I feel as a frustration borne of my own inadequacy, however, may be God’s way of building both my ability and the adequacy of my faith. When I think about it in that sense, it may be uncomfortable for me, but there is a special grace in the Composer of creation inviting me to be a part of living out the composition. God does not call us to make a new melody, just repeat what we know and have heard in our own way. May we all grow into the melody and our notes always be in tune.

Prayer: Holy Composer, teach me your melody. Tune my heart to sing your praise. In those tenuous moments when I feel like I am on my own, give to me the grace and love which drive out fear. Guide us all to you, in the name of Jesus Christ. AMEN

Activity: Can you recall an event or time in your life when you felt rather lost but in hind sight can see where God was working? Where is God working in your life right now?