way: a person’s usual habits, actions, or
qualities;
the course traveled from one
place to another
“There is just no other way,” we say with a smile.
It reminds us that if we had the choice…to go another way…we probably wouldn’t.
I can remember in seventh grade when I really became serious about my faith. I never knew a time when Jesus wasn’t a part of our lives but at that moment in my life, I decided to make this faith thing my own. This experience of justifying grace began a journey that has brought me to this place in this time.
That is what sanctifying grace or sanctification is all about. As we travel closer to God even the way we live changes as well. Sometimes we don’t even notice that God is gently helping us become more like Jesus.
The Kings in the Nativity story had a way about them. They studied prophecies and stars at night…watching the light of a new star. And when they saw it…their travels began.
After
Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and
asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star
when it rose and have come to worship him.”
Then
Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star
had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and
search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that
I too may go and worship him.”
After they had heard the king, they went on
their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it
stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were
overjoyed. On 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, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to
go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
Matthew 2: 1-2,
7-12
This is our story…the journey
of the kings. They followed the way of
the star. We follow the way of the
cross. They took a detour to see King
Herod. We do the same. And like them God draws us back to our paths
and leads us to Jesus.
There in the midst of the very
presence of God we worship…bowing our heads and offering our gifts. This is the way of sanctification…journeys
that lead us to holiness.
Just a few more days until we
celebrate. Just a few more steps and the
journey to Christmas becomes real again in our lives. For us, “there is no other way”.
Jesus, thank you. For leading us to the Father, saving us from our detours, makings us more like you. May we find joy in your birth that will last a life time. Amen
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