An Inspired Journey

"When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 'Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.' " - Matthew 2:1-2

So a little disclaimer on this one - this marks one full year of using this blog to practice Lectio Divina. On January 6th of last year, I wrote my first entry, using the quote from Origen Adamantius as my inspiration. One year and 124 posts later, I've felt like I've grown quite a bit in my own faith, by providing a reflection and perspective on parts of the Gospel readings for the week. And it's been quite the experience!

There's been many times I've had to research various topics and people before trying to make sense of what I was reading - I learned a lot about the background of the various people Jesus interacted with throughout his life. It's felt a bit like walking in the dark - not sure about what will come in studying the background and history of these people. Today's Gospel is no different - except, other than the shepherds and his parents, the Magi are one of the first people to see Jesus. 

But the Magi are much different than the shepherds. While busy in the fields, the shepherds were visited by an Angel of God and told where to find the baby Jesus - a relatively short trip for them. But for the Magi, the trip was one of complete faith - the simple appearance of a star is all they had to go on for direction and meaning. Only until they made it to their destination did they get a glimpse at the King they sought after. 

I sometimes feel like the Magi - especially while practicing Lectio Divina. Often I'm not sure what to think (and thus write) about when presented with a small portion of the Gospel. Often I just start typing out my thoughts. But as long as I keep looking for God in these small passages, I feel that I grow closer to Him. That all I need to do is put trust in Him, and it'll work out - maybe not in the way I expect, but in the way He expects.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. I hope you continue on with me throughout the next year.