Welcome Ladies and Gentlemen of SteemChurch, the first ever Church of the Blockchain.
I want to share my view on today's topic as a participant of the #celestialchallenge. I appreciate @sirknight for his indefatigable spirit and other apostles like @tikhub - the Insightful, the Spiritual, fellow brother @stevenmosoes and others.
On this day being Monday (dies lunae) we celebrate the Moon, the night and the tides. I will be talking about the moon in relation to the stars, the heavenly bodies and infact, the relevance of light. So when I use moon in this context, I am also referring to the stars in a symbolic or metaphoric manner.
The story I will love to use is the Epiphany, the story of the three wise men who followed the stars.
Let's tour!
THE EPIPHANY - The Magi and the Star
Let's discuss the three characters in this story - the three wise men, Herod and the Pharisees.
We begin with the Magi.
There are three qualities that describes the Three Wise Men - They saw, they acted, they surrendered.
SEE - Realization of the star
There saw the star. For that to have happened, they weren't infatuated by others nor of their own image. We like the wise men must look up. In the words of the Psalmist, "I will look up to heaven". We must yearn for God and not what gives us excitement.
Some will ask: "why didn't others see the star?". But the real question is: "Is I myself seeing the star"?, "Why am I not seeing the star?
When we realize that the object of our desire becomes our God, we are a step further to seeing the star.
Another question is:" What is the star that you see?", "What kind of star are you following?"
The true star is the light that points us to the truth. The truth is the light, and the light is Christ - bright, not loud but constant.
Some stars are just meteorite, they dazzle and fade out while others are bright but mislead us. Don't be ashamed to come out of darkness. This true star is gentle and it ensures peace.
ACT - Their response to the star
This is the second attribute that describes the Magi, the three wise men - they followed the star. It's not about hearing or knowing the word, it's about living it. We have to, like them, allow the Word to reflect in our actions. God manifests in us when we are on a journey to live out the Word.
To follow the star is to let go of things of the world; things that have no eternal value and the kind of success that will make you work in darkness. We shouldn't allow the world to define "success" for us.
Hitler says: "When you are in the light, everyone will see you and love to follow you, but when you are in darkness, no one will, even your shadow will reject you". You wonder why your shadow reflects only the presence of light?
Therefore, hearing the Word of God calls for a response.
We are the BODY OF CHRIST, We are on a journey to find God in EVERYTHING we do, seeing God in everywhere, even the neighbor next door. You won't be able to hurt someone when you love the person, neither will you derive pleasure in negative actions if you see God in everything.
When you seek God, not just that you'll find Him, but He will fulfill His promises. He promised: "I will let you find me".
What's our reason for going to Church?
Is it because we are asking God for a favour?
Is it because we want to fulfill all righteousness for the reason that we take it as an obligation?
Or is it because we desire to be with Him, to feel Him and be like Him?
It's all about our response to His Love and our attitude towards His graces.
SURRENDERED
Lastly, they surrendered to what the star led them to. To surrender is to let go. With this, it helps us live a sinless life and overwhelming happiness; to experience a joy that is within.
HEROD
The second character is King Herod. His inability to let go left him entangled in greed. He killed his mother, his first, second and third sons, all because he was troubled that he would be overthrown.
King Herod with his wild fear sent people to go search for the baby, but he stayed in his palace. A true shepherd goes into the field with the sheep irrespective of how tough the battle may appear.
THE JEWISH PEOPLE - The Priests, Scribes and the Pharisees
These set of people knew, but didn't make any conscious effort to find Him. They chose to remain in their status quo, their position. The talked more and acted less.
The story of the Epiphany brings to us the revelation of The baby Jesus as the King of Kings. The hero is this play or drama is Jesus who was revealed to us through the three wise men.
The wise men talked less and acted more. The prostrated to Jesus in total surrender as they presented the gifts to Him in honour and acknowledgment of the fact that they were nothing without Him.
What gifts do we give?
We are often full of ourselves. Why not surrender to the King and allow the King to transform you. This transformation makes you relevant and a blessing.
Do my presence bring light to those around me?, whose life have I lightened up?
What is my purpose for serving God?
The wise men continued their journey in the other direction by proclaiming the message of the new born king.
In conclusion, if the world is your pulpit and your life is your sermon, what message do you preach?
As agents of light, we are called to be instruments of Peace.