Day Six: Declarations of Hope in lives of Love (Leviticus 19:18)

(The other wise man)

Day Six: Declarations of Hope in lives of Love

Leviticus 19:18 "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD."...

One Christmas I received an old book (circa 1899) from my mom and dad: "The Story of the Other Wise Man." This story imagines the life of Artaban, a magus* on a life long journey to know the King of the Jews. Artaban sees the starry signs of Jesus' birth in the heavens and, like the other Magi he sets out to find and honour Christ. He carries gifts - a sapphire, a ruby, and a pearl of great price. However, as he begins his journey he encounters a dying man and he stops to nurse him. This delay causes Artaban to miss the rendezvous with the other Magi and the caravan to Israel. Artaban sells his sapphire to equip and supply another caravan and days later he sets out. Artaban arrives at Bethlehem too late; the newborn's parents have fled with the Child to Egypt. At the price of his ruby Artaban saves a child from Herod's slaughter of the innocents. Artaban sets out again, with the pearl of great price to seek the Child King. He travels for years seeking the Child performing many acts of love as he goes. After thirty-three years, Artaban arrives in Jerusalem at the moment of Jesus' crucifixion. He spends his last treasure as Christ is dying upon the Cross. A young woman is being sold into slavery for her debts. Artaban offers the pearl of great price for her ransom. That very moment the temple is rocked by an earthquake (see the Gospel of Matthew). Artaban is wounded by a tile which falls from the temple roof. He lies dying in the rubble, broken believing he has failed in his quest to find Jesus. Yet as he dies he hears Christ say "Verily I say unto thee, Inasmuch as thou hast done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, thou hast done it unto me."(Matthew 25:40) Artaban dies in joy for he has found life - the wise man has found his King. Today we pray that wise men still seek Him.

What is it to know Christ? What does a Christ follower look like? Christ teaches us to live as if every persons' need and comfort takes presidence over "my" own. He provided no wiggle room or excuse for looking after "me" first. That thought confronts us; it is a Light penetrating the shadows of our lives - it makes "me" uncomfortable because "I" know the truth God's Light reveals in "me." We can rationalize our wealth and justify our luxury and excuse our thoughts and actions but the truth stands starkly before us in the Light of the world. Grace does not neutralize Love; together they shine in the Son.

What would this world look like if we truly took the words of the Christ seriously? Hope resides in Love. Without Love we have nothing. Advent calls us to hear clearly and to live in the Love of the Christ of Christmas.

1 John 3:16-17 " By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."

* the singular of magi!