When I was little, I engaged in two rituals every Christmas Eve night. One was conspiring with my brother to determine the most effective and stealth way to catch Santa Claus in the act of descending our chimney. The other was peering out my bedroom window at approximately midnight to glimpse the star that marked the birthplace of Jesus. My window faced the east, and it seemed perfectly reasonable that a large, bright star should appear in the distance to mark the celebration of Jesus' birthday. I fell asleep disappointed each year, having failed to espy either Santa or the star of stars.
Although I'm now an adult, I still love to imagine the size, shape, and brilliance of the star that appeared over Bethlehem, leading the Magi to the humble birthplace of our Lord. Was it a bright, round orb, or did it have intricate protrusions, like a magnified snowflake? Was it symetrical, or was part of it longer than another part of it - like a cross, perhaps? I also love to picture the Magi making their way to Bethlehem. Did they watch where they were going, or were they unable to take their eyes off that stunning star? Did their pace increase as the star appeared closer and brighter, or did they slow down, humbled and perhaps weakened by the reality of encountering the Son of God?
Perhaps it's because I've given birth to a baby, held her in my arms and appreciated how precious and how helpless she was. Maybe it's because I'm a simple woman whose feeble mind is easily overwhelmed. I know it's because I'm a sinner in need of a savior. I just can't fathom the depth of love God has for you and me that He would cause His flesh to be born as our flesh, that He would sacrifice His utter perfection in order to save us from our horrid sinfulness, that He would watch the love and kindness and healing His Son showed us, knowing that we would mock and slaughter Him like a common criminal. That's a love that no human is capable of understanding fully, but it's a love every human desparately needs.
Luckily, I don't need to fall asleep Christmas Eve night with disappointment at not seeing a star in the eastern sky. The light from that star lives within you and me through the brilliance of the Holy Spirit, and it can never be extinguished. A Star was born in Bethlehem and He lives in the heart of every believer, two thousand and thirteen years later. No greater gift has ever been given or received.
Merry Christmas, friends! Celebrate the birth of Jesus, the depth of God's love for you, and the gift that lives within your very heart. May God richly bless you today and in the year to come.
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