This year, on the night of December 24th of this year, my family and I conducted what my wife has begun calling, “The Wiseman Dinner.” Although this is something that we have done in the past, this is the first year I actually asked my wife if this was something she, perhaps participated in, or learned as a child, or did she simply make it up. In response to my question, my wife stated that it was she herself began as a way to ensure that the birth of Christ Jesus remained the focus of our Christmas celebration each and every year.
The premise of this event, is the arrival of the Wisemen, also known as the Magi, in the second chapter of the Gospel of St. Matthew, as they followed the Christmas Star from the east, as it led them to the place where Jesus was found.
“Where is He that was born King of the Jews?, for we have seen His star in the last east, and are come to worship Him.” Matthew 2:2
This is the message that was given to Herod the king and ruler of Judea; therefore, because of his pride and jealousy, Herod sought to have the child who would be king, murdered in cold blood. After gathering a large number of scribes and priest, in order to find the place that the child Messiah would be born, Herod sent for these Magi, and instructed them that once they had found the King, they were to provide him, Herod, with the information, so that he too, could offer worship and praise unto the King. The Wisemen proceeded with great joy, following the Christmas Star into Bethlehem, and as they found the child, Jesus, they had been alerted by the Holy Spirit, not to return unto Herod; thusly, they departed a different way as to avoid Herod and his men.
Before departing the City of David, Bethlehem, the Magi worshipped the child King, after following the Holy Star to the home of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus our Lord. After worshipping the child King, the Wisemen presented gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh unto the royal family, allowing them to escape to Egypt as Herod had all children, aged two and younger, killed, in order that there would be no one alive, to challenge his rule, and so, back to the practice of our “Wiseman Dinner.'
During our Wiseman Dinner, we share in a simple hand eaten meal of crackers, different cheeses, and various other fruits, vegetables and even hummus. Along with these, aforementioned items, we also enjoyed chocolate candies, wrapped in golden foil. All of this was; rather, all of this is done, as a representation of the gifts presented to the child King, as He with his family departed their homeland, to the safety of Egypt.
As we share in this meal, we pray and read through the Biblical story of the birth of Christ found in the Books of Matthew and Luke: this in itself, is just a part of the Greatest Story ever told. From the beginning of the story in Genesis, to the silence following Malachi, and from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the Story of the Christ is the story of Hope and Redemption, culminating with the death, burial, and resurrection found in the end of the Gospels and heading into the book of Acts where the Promise made in Acts chapter one is fulfilled in Acts chapter two.
“But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and you shall be any witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the world.” Acts 1:8
And when the Day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from Heaven as of a Rushing Mighty Wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:1-4
From the book of Acts, through the end of the book, the book of Revelation, also known as the Apocalypse of John, we not only witness the fulfillment of many of the Prophecies of the Old Testament, or Torah, as well as many more Promises from Christ Jesus Himself.
As I bring this “Holiday Season Part II” to a close, my wish for you is that in this upcoming new year, you would be greatly Blessed. I pray that for you, this would be the Beginning of the Best of the Rest of your lives, and that perhaps, next year during the Holiday Season, you and your family, might take an evening, or even just an hour or two, to share with one another, the story of the Birth of Jesus Christ, and the true reason of the Holiday Season...
Grace and Peace...
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