A Reflection: The Wise Women
Written by +Deon K. Johnson, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri.
They came. As they always had. At every birth. The midwives. They came with the ancient wisdom. No fuss. No fanfare. They came as women always have with the insight of attending the most sacred act of birth.
Their presence didn’t even make it into the Good News because this is just what they do. They came with swaddling bands and birthing stools. They did what the ancient mothers have always done. They calmed the frightened mother with the compassion of wisdom. Told her what to do.
They came, those gentle wise women. Not at the summoning of a star but by the cries of labour. With ancient strength and quiet gentleness, they went about their business.
These unsung wise women have always been there. Unseen. Doing the thing that God has called them to be. They follow in the path of Shiphrah and Puah who went before them.
Today, perhaps we need to recapture a bit of the spirit of the wise women, who in their quiet confidence points us to a faith beyond the spotlight, that welcomed the Christ-Child into a world in need.
They came, these wise women, as they always have and as they always will, to bring Divine hope into the world. No greater gift can we give.
So here’s to the wise women. The faithful and fierce women, the practical and passionate women, the compassionate and caring women. We may not always remember that you too came, bearing gifts of precious worth, to attend the Messiah’s birth