They didn’t really come there to worship. At least that’s what I think.
This Season of Epiphany has had me thinking about the Magi who came to find the baby Jesus.
We’re all somewhat aware of their story. As astrologers they had noticed a new occurrence in the sky. And over time as they discussed it, they felt that it was an omen worth checking out. They made plans for their caravan, gathered the gifts, prepared for a journey of unknown length and set out. Their journey took them to Jerusalem where they naturally asked the reigning king about all this. After all, the new king would most logically be one of his descendants. He was no help, so they set out again following the star, and finally found themselves in the small village of Bethlehem.
But I’m not sure they came to Bethlehem expecting to worship. They did use that word in talking with king Herod, but they had no idea. After all, do you worship a king? You honor, you perhaps revere, you bring gifts maybe hoping to lay the groundwork for a future treaty or alliance. Worship is reserved for a deity, a god. But as they entered the house, prepared to offer their gifts (gold, frankincense, myrrh), undoubtedly expecting the extraordinary, they were suddenly overcome by worship. Matthew said that “they fell to the ground and worshiped Him.” (NASB) What a moment!
Mary may have had a similar experience when the angel suddenly appeared to her with news she could not possibly have expected, and when, at Elizabeth’s home she cried out, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!”
The shepherds must have felt something similar when their night sky was transformed into glory, they saw and heard the angel, and then the angel choir singing “Glory to God in the highest.”
I think about Moses, confronted with a burning bush and realizing he was on holy ground. And Isaiah; he was actually in church when it happened. He saw the Lord sitting on a lofty throne, heard the song, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”
And maybe it’s happened to you as well, in an expected situation, or maybe totally unexpected.
Worship is far, far more than what we do. We’ve somewhat limited that word down to the singing we do in a church service. (Okay, I’ve probably overstated that, but you know what I mean.) But true genuine worship is a gift, just as grace is a gift. When we come, having done all we can to be ready for it . . . or when we come in a bad mood, wishing we weren’t there, or having had a rough morning getting there . . . and suddenly, miraculously God breaks in on us. Or maybe it happened when you weren’t even in church. But there was suddenly that overwhelming awareness of the Presence, the Glory, of God.
That’s what I long for this Sunday morning as I walk through the doors of my church. And yes, it is up to me to bring and offer my worship. But at some time, in some way . . . maybe in the singing, maybe in conversation before or after the service, maybe in quiet prayer, maybe in some thought in the sermon, and just maybe in some way and time I can’t even imagine . . . God breaks in and that moment is transformed into a holy moment full of God’s glory, and I’m given the gift of worship.
That’s my prayer.
