Inspired by lyrics to “Search the Sky,” by Sloan Wainwright:
“Search the sky for that star, star of light, star of love – bright enough to guide believers from afar, seeking their rumored newborn King.
And when we wish upon it, we wish for our only gift, peace around our troubled world, peace within ourselves.
Search the face of the child, shining with the spirit of Christmases in your heart, and all that joy shall easily be restored.
We’ve traveled such a long way – we’ve forgotten what for. Then we gaze upon the face of that child and hope for the only gift: peace around our troubled world, peace within ourselves.”
Search the sky – and your heart – for that star of light, star of love.
Responsive Reading for Sunday, December 10
“When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage’” (Matthew 2:1-2).
“Search the sky for that star, star of light, star of love – bright enough to guide believers from afar, seeking their rumored newborn King.”
“When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, ‘In Bethlehem . . . shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel’” (Matthew 2:3-4).
“And when we wish upon it, we wish for our only gift, peace around our troubled world, peace within ourselves.”
“Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage. After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was” (Matthew 2:7-9).
“Search the face of the child, shining with the spirit of Christmases in your heart, and all that joy shall easily be restored.”
“They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way” (Matthew 2:10-12).
We’ve traveled such a long way . . . . When we gaze upon the face of that child, we hope for the only gift: “peace around our troubled world, peace within ourselves . . . shining with the spirit of Christmases in our heart, peace around our troubled world, peace within ourselves . . . star of light, star of love.”