RBWords

     Balaam was a kind of prophet-seer who was hired by an enemy king to put a curse on the army of Israel and suddenly found himself the voice of God!  Instead, he prophesies the utlimate triumph of God's people.  In particular the words quoted above were seen by the early Christian community as referring to the birth of Jesus which would occur many centuries later.  The star of Bethlehem is one of the principal symbols of the Christmas/Epiphany liturgical season because it guides the outside world in the persons of the Magi to the discovery of the newborn Christ-child.

     It is a definite challenge in this time to ponder the large scale narrative of which the birth of Jesus is a part.  A child lying in a manger with mother, father, and barn animals, along with shepherds and three "kings," may be the best we can do, and it is important that we do at least that much.  Nevertheless, the story is bigger and invites consideration.  The Prologue to the Gospel of John is a good place to begin:  "In the beginning was the Word......and the Word became flesh and dwelled among us..." [John 1].  AMEN