Pastor John’s Letter
Office hours: Sunday, Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. -12 p.m.
Pastor John’s e-mail: jwgilmore@mchsi.com
From Pastor John
You know the story of the Three Wise Men of the east, about how they travelled from far away to offer their gifts at the manger in Bethlehem. But have you ever heard the story of the Other Wise Man, who also saw the star in its rising? I came across a wonderful little book during the Christmas season, “The Story of the Other Wise Man”, by Henry Van Dyke, that I fell in love with. As the story unfolds the Other Wise Man sets out to join the Three and then together follow the star. Yet, he does not arrive in time to join his brethren. But, because of his great desire to worship in the presence of the young child Jesus, he continues the journey, but he faces the dangers of his journey alone. As you remember also, the Three Wise Men carried gold, frankincense, and myrrh, to give the child as an offering. The Other Wise Man sold his possessions and bought three jewels: a sapphire, a ruby, and a pearl to carry them as tribute to the King.
Alas, along the way the Other Wise Man runs into three great challenges of the heart. The first is whether to stop and help a stranger, a poor man lying across the road. His skin was pallid and he bore the mark of a deadly fever. How could he stay to minister to a dying stranger? If he lingered he would not reach his companions in time; they would leave without him. But if he left the stranger, he would surely die. Torn between his desires to hurry along his way to catch up to his brethren, and help a dying stranger, he stays. Because he stays to help, he misses the Three as they set out upon their journey, and he has to spend one of the jewels he is carrying to give the Child to buy camels and supplies to journey on alone. So he travels to Bethlehem following the star, but there he learns that the Holy Family has already left. As he is inquiring about the family’s whereabouts there is a disturbance in the city. Roman soldiers have come and are hunting for the infants. The poor woman where he has stopped to ask about the Child has a young child, so the Other Wise Man uses another jewel to bribe the Roman captain to have his soldiers leave this family alone. So he saves the life of this stranger and her child.
The Other Wise Man continues his search for the Christ Child always one step behind. And spends much of his remaining wealth and all of his energy helping the poor and unfortunate people he meets, until at the end of his life he finally finds Jesus-at his trial in Jerusalem. And having nothing left to present to the Christ, he feels that he has failed in his journey searching for the king to worship. It is then that he pours out his heart “When did I see you a stranger, and took you in? Or naked, and clothed you? Three and thirty years have I looked for you, but I have never seen your face nor ministered to you my King.” And a voice speaks to his heart in words so very faintly, “So, I say to you, in as much as you have done it to one of the least of my brethren, you have done it to me.”
“To me the story bears witness reminding us as we begin a new year of who we seek, and what meaning is to be found in this Child. Matthew 25: 37 Then the righteous will answer him, Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you? And the King will answer, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.
And let us make the following our prayer as we begin a new year.
Almighty God, look upon my life and cause all darkness and doubt to vanish beneath your gaze. Look upon my ministry and banish all barriers to effectiveness and faithfulness. Fill my life and ministry with your Holy Spirit to the end that I may be led into paths of fruitful service. Amen.
In Christ
Pastor John
