Today's reading includes the visit of the Magi - a very familiar story but with many misconceptions.

When and where did the Magi visit Jesus? Was it Nazareth, Bethlehem, or the hills of Judea?

“We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”

This strongly suggests they studied the scriptures as well as the heavens. Could they have been descended from some of the Jews who did not leave Babylon to return to Jerusalem? If so they would have known the Old Testament prophecies of the coming Messiah. They didn’t say they followed the star but that they saw the star from the east and came to Jerusalem.

What exactly was the star? Could the Magi have seen the “glory of God” that appeared to the shepherds? The word "star" means as “strewn over the heavens”. Is a star “strewn” or is light ‘strewn”. This gives the impression that light came from a pinpoint such as an opening in heaven and fanned out from there to encircle something. If we go back and look at what the word “shone” means concerning the shepherds, it means “to illuminate all around; to invest with a halo”.

“When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.”

The Magi didn’t follow the star that is why when they left Herod in Jerusalem they were overjoyed because the star was back. If the star had been leading them all along, why were they overjoyed when it was “back”?  Then it guided them to the house where Jesus was. Earlier it was only seen.  If this was God’s glory, then it guided the Magi in the same way it guided Moses and the children of Israel in the desert.

These Magi traveled many hundreds of miles to see the King of the Jews. Chances are after they saw the initial light in the western sky, from their position in the east they would have had to confirm with scripture about prophecy, check the astrological signs, examine the evidence, confer with each other, then conclude that it was the sign of the Messiah. Then they would need to prepare for the journey, provisions, animals, etc. This would have taken considerable time.

How many Magi were there? We always think three because of the three gifts. Chances are there was an entourage of people. It would have been dangerous to travel in a small group for such a long journey. They came from far away and because they were wealthy, they would have brought with them a caravan of supplies, provisions, and servants. And what was their mode of transportation? The Bible doesn't tell us that they traveled on camels. Could they have traveled on fine Arabian horses?  And could they have traveled the Fertile Crescent instead of traveling across the desert? 

The gifts that the Magi gave were valuable and could have been used to support the family while they lived in Egypt.

“So he got up took the child (not baby or infant) and his mother during the night and left for Egypt where he stayed until the death of Herod.”

Herod ordered all baby boys from two years and younger killed. This order encompassed Bethlehem and its vicinity. KJV says “all the coasts thereof”. Herod’s territory was vast.  All the baby boys would have most certainly have included the "miracle" baby, John the Baptist.  But. of course John was also spared.  Was it because Elizabeth and Zechariah hid him away in the hills of Judea or in the wilderness or maybe in Qumran? 

After Herod died in 4 B.C. the family returned to Nazareth. Nazareth was in the hilly area of southern Galilee near the crossroads of great caravan trade routes.

Many thought provoking points to ponder in today's reading, expanding the mind and heart for even more revelations.