Stars In Their Eyes
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series IV, Cycle B
Object:
Stars In Their Eyes
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." (vv. 1-2)
Michael Molnar paid $50 for a coin that was worth about $10. For him the coin had a greater value. As an astronomer formerly with the Rutgers University physics lab, he collected coins with stars and moons. The coin prominently displayed Aries the ram, so he had to have it.
A few months later, Molnar looked through some books to learn more about his new coin. He discovered that Aries appeared on coinage for the first time in 6 A.D., and that his new coin was from a Roman astrological text. It symbolized Judea, which had been annexed by the Romans.
In a flash Molnar thought of the most compelling cosmic mystery -- the Star of Bethlehem that guided the Magi to Christ's manger in Judea.
Since 1603, when astronomer Johannes Kepler proposed that the star was a conjunction of Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, the prevailing thought was that the star had appeared in the sign of Pisces, the fish. Since then, scientists have said it could have been a supernova, a comet, or an eclipse of Jupiter by Venus.
But in a moment, Molnar concluded that these theories that had prevailed for four centuries were wrong. He says that too often theories about the star "have been based upon modern astronomy and justified or rationalized with unfounded ideas about stargazing as it was practiced 2,000 years ago." Earlier scientists have failed to consult the original sources. Fortunately, he was able to access surviving books that detail the codes and interpretations of astrology as it was actually practiced in the ancient Middle East.
Molnar's research shows that the Magi were neither astronomers nor Babylonian astrologers but ... "respected Hellenistic astrologers." He states that by the first century B.C., astronomy was becoming relatively advanced. Despite the belief that the earth was the center of the solar system, astronomers were able to make reasonable predictions about the movement of celestial bodies. Molnar elaborates, "That meant that people were indeed watching the skies for the advent of the Messiah."
Molnar explains, "The Magi paid attention only to their mathematical calculations and rarely looked up. Comets and exploding stars were ignored in their horoscopes." He added that comets were viewed as signs of danger, which makes Molnar reject outright suggestions the Bethlehem Star was a comet. Instead, he said, the Magi and other astrologers 2,000 years ago would have looked to Aries for stars revealing the upcoming birth of a king, an event foretold in biblical prophecies.
In his book, The Star of Bethlehem: The Legacy of the Magi, Molnar articulates that once he'd accepted Aries instead of Pisces, he had other questions to answer, beginning with what event in the constellation of Aries would have captured the attention of astrologers then.
He asserts, "During the time people think Jesus was born there was an eclipse of Jupiter by the moon." He knew the event had to have happened "in the east." Using a computer program, he was able to chart an eclipse of Jupiter in Aries on April 17, 6 B.C. Furthermore, he found a Roman astrologer who described the conditions of the date -- with the sun, moon, and several planets in especially favorable positions -- as fitting the birth of a "divine and immortal" person.
Such an eclipse, he says, "wasn't a big exploding apparition in the sky, but for these ancient people this was earthshaking. On that day it indicated whomever was born in Judea was going to be a great king." That is why the Magi left their homes.
They were not actually following the star across the sky. Molnar says, "They understand that Aries indicated a birth in Judea," so they went there.
Harvard University professor Owen Gingerich calls Molnar's Magi's star theory "the most original and important contribution of the entire twentieth century." Writing in Sky and Telescope magazine, Yale University professor Bradley Schaefer says, "Molnar's theory makes old astronomical views irrelevant."
Still, Molnar says that his revelation shouldn't bring about changes in the annual portrayal in Christmas pageants of the Magi's star, those glittering cardboard cutouts hanging over the cr?che. He explains, "Children can show a nice big star, a beautiful symbol of what happened. Just don't make it a comet."
(Julia Lieblich, AP religion writer, "The Bethlehem Star: Astrology and Astronomy" Southwest Times Record [Fort Smith, Arkansas], December 18, 1999, E2.)
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." (vv. 1-2)
Michael Molnar paid $50 for a coin that was worth about $10. For him the coin had a greater value. As an astronomer formerly with the Rutgers University physics lab, he collected coins with stars and moons. The coin prominently displayed Aries the ram, so he had to have it.
A few months later, Molnar looked through some books to learn more about his new coin. He discovered that Aries appeared on coinage for the first time in 6 A.D., and that his new coin was from a Roman astrological text. It symbolized Judea, which had been annexed by the Romans.
In a flash Molnar thought of the most compelling cosmic mystery -- the Star of Bethlehem that guided the Magi to Christ's manger in Judea.
Since 1603, when astronomer Johannes Kepler proposed that the star was a conjunction of Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, the prevailing thought was that the star had appeared in the sign of Pisces, the fish. Since then, scientists have said it could have been a supernova, a comet, or an eclipse of Jupiter by Venus.
But in a moment, Molnar concluded that these theories that had prevailed for four centuries were wrong. He says that too often theories about the star "have been based upon modern astronomy and justified or rationalized with unfounded ideas about stargazing as it was practiced 2,000 years ago." Earlier scientists have failed to consult the original sources. Fortunately, he was able to access surviving books that detail the codes and interpretations of astrology as it was actually practiced in the ancient Middle East.
Molnar's research shows that the Magi were neither astronomers nor Babylonian astrologers but ... "respected Hellenistic astrologers." He states that by the first century B.C., astronomy was becoming relatively advanced. Despite the belief that the earth was the center of the solar system, astronomers were able to make reasonable predictions about the movement of celestial bodies. Molnar elaborates, "That meant that people were indeed watching the skies for the advent of the Messiah."
Molnar explains, "The Magi paid attention only to their mathematical calculations and rarely looked up. Comets and exploding stars were ignored in their horoscopes." He added that comets were viewed as signs of danger, which makes Molnar reject outright suggestions the Bethlehem Star was a comet. Instead, he said, the Magi and other astrologers 2,000 years ago would have looked to Aries for stars revealing the upcoming birth of a king, an event foretold in biblical prophecies.
In his book, The Star of Bethlehem: The Legacy of the Magi, Molnar articulates that once he'd accepted Aries instead of Pisces, he had other questions to answer, beginning with what event in the constellation of Aries would have captured the attention of astrologers then.
He asserts, "During the time people think Jesus was born there was an eclipse of Jupiter by the moon." He knew the event had to have happened "in the east." Using a computer program, he was able to chart an eclipse of Jupiter in Aries on April 17, 6 B.C. Furthermore, he found a Roman astrologer who described the conditions of the date -- with the sun, moon, and several planets in especially favorable positions -- as fitting the birth of a "divine and immortal" person.
Such an eclipse, he says, "wasn't a big exploding apparition in the sky, but for these ancient people this was earthshaking. On that day it indicated whomever was born in Judea was going to be a great king." That is why the Magi left their homes.
They were not actually following the star across the sky. Molnar says, "They understand that Aries indicated a birth in Judea," so they went there.
Harvard University professor Owen Gingerich calls Molnar's Magi's star theory "the most original and important contribution of the entire twentieth century." Writing in Sky and Telescope magazine, Yale University professor Bradley Schaefer says, "Molnar's theory makes old astronomical views irrelevant."
Still, Molnar says that his revelation shouldn't bring about changes in the annual portrayal in Christmas pageants of the Magi's star, those glittering cardboard cutouts hanging over the cr?che. He explains, "Children can show a nice big star, a beautiful symbol of what happened. Just don't make it a comet."
(Julia Lieblich, AP religion writer, "The Bethlehem Star: Astrology and Astronomy" Southwest Times Record [Fort Smith, Arkansas], December 18, 1999, E2.)
