Have you, or someone you love ever been tempted to think that life has no ultimate meaning or purpose?
Many of our fellow citizens, especially those who have fallen away from the practice of their Christian faith, live in a state of virtual atheism, detached from the reality of the mystical and transcendent.
Even for those anchored in their Christian faith, given the ubiquitous nature of digital technology, our lives are increasingly mediated by screens and apps. It can be challenging at times to separate from a technology-mediated reality, to encounter the mystery of the Eternal God.
But discoveries in astronomy and archeology can help raise our eyes and hearts from our screens, up to the heavens, and discover a deeper appreciation for the Christmas stories about the birth of Christ, and the great star the led the Magi to Bethlehem.
And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose, went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When [the Magi] saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. (Matthew 2:9-10)
In his book Mystery of the Magi, Fr Longenecker writes that the Magi were likely advisors from the court of Aretas IV, the king of Nabatea, in present-day Jordan. Nabatea was a major center of commerce in the Middle East when Jesus was born, and a relatively short journey on horseback from Jerusalem and nearby Bethlehem.
These advisers were experienced diplomats, and closely observed the astrology and astronomy of their day to help guide their king in the governance of his kingdom. At the time of the birth of Jesus, there were a number of events in the skies above the ancient Middle East that would have been of great interest to the Magi.
In his film The Star of Bethlehem, Rick Larson used the latest astronomy software to rewind the heavenly skies and discovered several planetary conjunctions that occurred in the years around the birth of Jesus.
On December of 2 BC, Jupiter had a spectacular convergence with Venus, the Mother Planet. Larson shares, “This conjunction was so close and so bright that it is today displayed in hundreds of planetariums around the world by scientists who may know nothing of Messiah.”
Another possibility is presented in the book The Great Christ Comet. Author Colin Nicholl makes a convincing case that, based on ancient and modern astronomy, that the star of Bethlehem was actually a great comet. The action of this comet in the sky, visible by day and night during the period around the birth of Christ, could have been interpreted by the Magi as announcing the birth of a Jewish Messiah.
The Ultimate Meaning of Life
The Magi and the Star reveal that the coming of Christ as man, born of the Virgin Mary, was in the mind of God before the universe was created. Across the great eons of time, and the vast expanses of the universe, all creation was orchestrated to unfold in such a way as to proclaim this blessed event.
In unfathomable humility and sacrificial love, the Word of God descended from the heavens, and from all eternity. Jesus became man to begin healing the spiritual and physical wounds of the human family. The birth of Christ invites us to lift our eyes and hearts to the heavens, and be liberated from the captivity to our screens and devices.
But some experience of sin, trauma and loss make it difficult to raise our eyes to the heavens, and open up our hearts and souls to receive the love and mercy of the One whose birthday we celebrate each December. This points to the need for a deeper emotional and spiritual healing.
Theresa Burke, Ph.D., has developed a number of different spiritual and emotional healing programs that present an integrated spiritual and psychological approach to healing. Beautiful scripture-based meditations, and trauma sensitive activities and exercises, allow wounded souls to enter deeply into the Word of God, to experience the love and compassion of Jesus.
A well-trained retreat team consisting of a facilitator, clergy, counselor, and volunteers travel with participants through the paschal mystery of their lives. In a trauma sensitive approach that integrates mind, body and spirit, women and men come to experience the joy of new life in Christ Jesus.
Liberty to Captives
This Christmas may the Lord open your heart, or that of a friend or loved one, to the peace, joy and hope of the Season, and a deeper healing of those wounds that can hold us captive, separated from the Heart of our Loving Father.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19)
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