The Chief Magi's Son
Stories
Scenes of Glory
Subplots of God's Long Story
Object:
Emphasis or special occasion: Epiphany
Chapter 8
The Chief Magi's Son
Matthew 2:1-12
The chief magi's son had never wanted to leave Persia and go off after a star; during the weeks on the journey, if anyone would listen to him, he tried to make them understand: "Stars shine everywhere." His magi companions habitually smiled at his contrariness. His father, the chief magi, endured his questions even when they bordered more on blasphemy than interrogation: "Look at the sky. Has it changed since we left three months ago?" His father, no matter how difficult the road or how hot the day, said, "You'll see." When that response didn't convince his son, the chief magi smiled and patted him on the shoulder.
Now they'd gone through the mockery of an interview with Herod. The chief magi's son felt the hair on his neck prickle when Herod displayed his oily smile. Did they really think this tyrant was pleased that a rival king was born outside his dynastic line? As they were escorted from Herod's audience room he whispered to two magi, "Don't you see that Herod is suspicious?" But, since he had been such a consistent nag for months, the magi smiled gently and made their preparations to continue toward Bethlehem. Truly, the chief magi's son didn't try as hard to convince them anymore. No matter their expectations for his also becoming a magi, he only came along because he promised his mother to watch out for his father. The magis' infinite patience with him had worn him down.
Only once more did he try to convince his father that they were putting their heads in the lion's mouth. His father replied, "Yes, the lion of the tribe of Judah." His father shushed him, "We're almost there." He patted his son on the shoulder. "Another morning's travel. You'll see."
The next morning they left Jerusalem -- camels, donkeys, attendants, and magi. The chief magi's son made sure he was last. He glanced back toward Jerusalem and saw Herod's men atop the city wall, watching them. He expected to see them again soon.
What had captured the minds of these Zoroastrian priests who, until a year ago, had seemed so reasonable, so stable, even staid? The dangerous pilgrimage to Judea was only one thing. To think that a star could guide them anywhere was foolish and bordered on self-destruction. Didn't they realize you can see a star from anywhere? That's one large sky up there, seen from all points on earth. Stars don't stand over anything. Stars move all night and all year.
The caravan arrived in Bethlehem at midday. Their entourage with their foreign clothes and strange dialect upset the villagers. The magi announced that they came seeking the child born king of the Jews, the Messiah. The chief magi's son sighed and said to a boy holding a camel's bridle, "Why don't we just return to Jerusalem and turn ourselves in for sedition?" Herod would act swiftly if even one village sprouted hope for a different king.
No one in Bethlehem knew of a special baby, although the magi made a number of young mothers happy by their visits. In the late afternoon, the magi gathered for a council and determined they must wait for nightfall and the star to direct them. The chief magi's son sat beyond their circle and remained silent during the discussion.
That evening as the stars appeared, the old men, professional astrologers, stood gazing at the heavens, identifying constellations. One said, "There it is." The others shouted agreement. Then they ran, grabbing the gifts they had carted for 100 days. Adorned in their priestly Persian garb, the old men tottered through the dark street like frail birds flying at night. The chief magi's son followed in order to pick up any who fell. He didn't want them hurt. Who else would have put up with him as they did? He was already planning a way home for them by some route other than through Herod's Jerusalem.
Ahead of him, his father kept looking up at the stars, then down to the dark, irregular alley. He stopped and pointed to the house that he said the star shined over. His son looked up also, seeing all stars shining over all houses. The men knocked and were welcomed in. They entered in such joy they didn't realize that the chief magi's son stayed outside.
He had kept his father safe halfway. He also promised his mother to usher him home safely. Alone in Bethlehem's dark street, away from the old men's excitement, the chief magi's son looked up quietly and said, "God, I don't know whose child they've come upon. But they're good men full of hopes. They're old men consumed with dreams. They're not like so many people hollowed out by life. These men, led by my father, are looking for something extraordinary. Not for their own benefit. They aren't seeking in order to become rich and powerful.
"Great creator, if you reward anyone for faithfulness, look upon them, I pray. They follow their abnormal star, which they think shines only here. Grant them some touch upon this earth of life beyond. Don't let their waning years be filled with regret. Bestow upon them, I pray, satisfaction with a quest that grows in mercy and kindness and that spreads to others as goodwill.
"Merciful and almighty, if I also must become a priest, I ask that you impart to me a portion of their faith and compassion, for these are the best men I've ever known. And if I, as they expect, must serve an earthly Messiah, may he be as hopeful as these magi and as good as my father.
"In hope for the world I pray. Amen."
Discussion Questions
1. What immediate responses do you have to the story?
2. Do you identify with a character in the story? If yes, how and why do you identify with the person? If no, why don't you identify with anyone in the story?
3. Would you like to have a conversation with a character in the story? What would you say, ask, or suggest to the person? Why?
4. How does the story bring the biblical text into a clearer focus for you?
5. How would you improve or modify the story? Why?
6. Have you considered yourself upon a religious quest? How? What have you sought? What did you find?
7. How has your faith been affected by the people of your parents' age?
8. How do you respond to religious idealists? To religious skeptics?
9. What further depths of meaning, symbols, connections with, or applications of the biblical faith do you find in the story?
10. Since Jesus Christ has risen from the dead and is alive among us through his Holy Spirit, what of this story would you like Christ to activate in your life?
Chapter 8
The Chief Magi's Son
Matthew 2:1-12
The chief magi's son had never wanted to leave Persia and go off after a star; during the weeks on the journey, if anyone would listen to him, he tried to make them understand: "Stars shine everywhere." His magi companions habitually smiled at his contrariness. His father, the chief magi, endured his questions even when they bordered more on blasphemy than interrogation: "Look at the sky. Has it changed since we left three months ago?" His father, no matter how difficult the road or how hot the day, said, "You'll see." When that response didn't convince his son, the chief magi smiled and patted him on the shoulder.
Now they'd gone through the mockery of an interview with Herod. The chief magi's son felt the hair on his neck prickle when Herod displayed his oily smile. Did they really think this tyrant was pleased that a rival king was born outside his dynastic line? As they were escorted from Herod's audience room he whispered to two magi, "Don't you see that Herod is suspicious?" But, since he had been such a consistent nag for months, the magi smiled gently and made their preparations to continue toward Bethlehem. Truly, the chief magi's son didn't try as hard to convince them anymore. No matter their expectations for his also becoming a magi, he only came along because he promised his mother to watch out for his father. The magis' infinite patience with him had worn him down.
Only once more did he try to convince his father that they were putting their heads in the lion's mouth. His father replied, "Yes, the lion of the tribe of Judah." His father shushed him, "We're almost there." He patted his son on the shoulder. "Another morning's travel. You'll see."
The next morning they left Jerusalem -- camels, donkeys, attendants, and magi. The chief magi's son made sure he was last. He glanced back toward Jerusalem and saw Herod's men atop the city wall, watching them. He expected to see them again soon.
What had captured the minds of these Zoroastrian priests who, until a year ago, had seemed so reasonable, so stable, even staid? The dangerous pilgrimage to Judea was only one thing. To think that a star could guide them anywhere was foolish and bordered on self-destruction. Didn't they realize you can see a star from anywhere? That's one large sky up there, seen from all points on earth. Stars don't stand over anything. Stars move all night and all year.
The caravan arrived in Bethlehem at midday. Their entourage with their foreign clothes and strange dialect upset the villagers. The magi announced that they came seeking the child born king of the Jews, the Messiah. The chief magi's son sighed and said to a boy holding a camel's bridle, "Why don't we just return to Jerusalem and turn ourselves in for sedition?" Herod would act swiftly if even one village sprouted hope for a different king.
No one in Bethlehem knew of a special baby, although the magi made a number of young mothers happy by their visits. In the late afternoon, the magi gathered for a council and determined they must wait for nightfall and the star to direct them. The chief magi's son sat beyond their circle and remained silent during the discussion.
That evening as the stars appeared, the old men, professional astrologers, stood gazing at the heavens, identifying constellations. One said, "There it is." The others shouted agreement. Then they ran, grabbing the gifts they had carted for 100 days. Adorned in their priestly Persian garb, the old men tottered through the dark street like frail birds flying at night. The chief magi's son followed in order to pick up any who fell. He didn't want them hurt. Who else would have put up with him as they did? He was already planning a way home for them by some route other than through Herod's Jerusalem.
Ahead of him, his father kept looking up at the stars, then down to the dark, irregular alley. He stopped and pointed to the house that he said the star shined over. His son looked up also, seeing all stars shining over all houses. The men knocked and were welcomed in. They entered in such joy they didn't realize that the chief magi's son stayed outside.
He had kept his father safe halfway. He also promised his mother to usher him home safely. Alone in Bethlehem's dark street, away from the old men's excitement, the chief magi's son looked up quietly and said, "God, I don't know whose child they've come upon. But they're good men full of hopes. They're old men consumed with dreams. They're not like so many people hollowed out by life. These men, led by my father, are looking for something extraordinary. Not for their own benefit. They aren't seeking in order to become rich and powerful.
"Great creator, if you reward anyone for faithfulness, look upon them, I pray. They follow their abnormal star, which they think shines only here. Grant them some touch upon this earth of life beyond. Don't let their waning years be filled with regret. Bestow upon them, I pray, satisfaction with a quest that grows in mercy and kindness and that spreads to others as goodwill.
"Merciful and almighty, if I also must become a priest, I ask that you impart to me a portion of their faith and compassion, for these are the best men I've ever known. And if I, as they expect, must serve an earthly Messiah, may he be as hopeful as these magi and as good as my father.
"In hope for the world I pray. Amen."
Discussion Questions
1. What immediate responses do you have to the story?
2. Do you identify with a character in the story? If yes, how and why do you identify with the person? If no, why don't you identify with anyone in the story?
3. Would you like to have a conversation with a character in the story? What would you say, ask, or suggest to the person? Why?
4. How does the story bring the biblical text into a clearer focus for you?
5. How would you improve or modify the story? Why?
6. Have you considered yourself upon a religious quest? How? What have you sought? What did you find?
7. How has your faith been affected by the people of your parents' age?
8. How do you respond to religious idealists? To religious skeptics?
9. What further depths of meaning, symbols, connections with, or applications of the biblical faith do you find in the story?
10. Since Jesus Christ has risen from the dead and is alive among us through his Holy Spirit, what of this story would you like Christ to activate in your life?
