Two windows in Christchurch. 2/1/22
There are in fact two windows in Christchurch Hamilton which depict the visit of the Magi. Fortunately they are at opposite ends of the Church. One is in the Lady Chapel and one is near the font.
That’s not the only difference. The one in the Lady chapel is quite bright in its colouring. In fact you could almost be mistaken for thinking that the magi visited the Christ-child and his mother in broad daylight.
The one near the font however uses darker colours to show that it would have been night time when the Magi visited. They were using a star to navigate so it was probably night.
A couple of misconceptions that you probably already know about but which are good to be reminded of.
We easily and understandably jump to the conclusion that there were three kings because there were three gifts. But nowhere are we told how many of these chaps turned up. There might have been two or more kings plus a little entourage of people to do the cooking and water the camels and mend the sandals.
The image that we bring to mind is of a cute little scene in the stable, but in fact the Christ-child would have grown a bit because the magi got off track and had to ask for directions. Further we are told that the Holy Family were now well and truly ensconced in a house and had left the stable a while back.
Matthew tells it this way
“2:11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.”
During the visit of the magi Joseph is blitheringly conspicuous by his absence. It’s not until after the magi have departed that he has one of his famous dreams and plucks his vulnerable family out of danger and goes second class express to Egypt. So where was Joey when his wife was getting all the presents?
One scholar of a very dubious repute posited the theory that when Mary saw these guys approaching with their camels and entourage, she panicked and realised that she didn’t have enough Tim tams, Stilton Cheese and red wine to properly entertain such distinguished looking guests. There was only one thing for it and that was to send Joey off to the supermarket with the credit card to get some party food and refreshing beverages. Alas, the 12 items or less aisle was clogged with other shoppers who had thought that the guys on the camels were coming to visit them; so by the time Joey got back from his shopping spree the magi had left.
There is nothing at all to substantiate this sketchy piece of academia which leaves us pondering where was Joseph and how come he missed out on getting all the nifty presents of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
The story over all is one of reassurance. That despite the trickery and deviousness of Herod, God’s purpose is still worked out and there is a very real sense in which God uses Herod to bring about his plan and if that be the case, then all is not lost and God can use whoever he will, in whatever way he chooses, to bring about the manifestation and epiphany of his Son.
Something that is a little odd and something I think about.
The thing that is odd. The window in the Lady Chapel. This window only has images of the three Magi. There is no cute vista of Mary and the Christ-child. It’s all about the magi.
I think about those funny gentlemen as they trudged through the desert in the middle of the inky black night. I reckon they might have got a little irritated with each other but give them their due… they got there.
So their journey, is my journey, is your journey, is our journey.
Someday I’ll find you and you will not be where I expected you to be. You will not be in Jerusalem the powerful epicentre of the land.
And it will not be when I expect; in brilliant spring sunshine but in the middle of my darkest night.
And you will not be what I thought. And you will not be with those I would expect.
Just like Herod and the people I will be perturbed and disarmed.
And I will bring my gold, my frankincense and my myrrh and go home by a different route, a fresh resolve, a new impetus.
And this pilgrimage to you goes on each day and every week. Off I go …setting out, asking, hoping, discouraged and disappointed sometimes, lost frequently, but always being steered by that distant star that I sometimes glimpse out the corner of my eye.
Someday, one day I will come home to you and not only will it be more than worth while… but every disappointment, every blistered footsore, every irritant will dissolve the moment I open my eyes in death.