A Star Guides the Wise Men

Far from Bethlehem, in lands to the east, some wise men had seen a special star.

They understood that it announced the birth of a king.

They wanted to find him and worship him.

They prepared gifts and began a long journey.

The road brought them to Jerusalem.

There they began to ask:

“Where is the king of the Jews who has been born? We saw his star and have come to worship him.”

King Herod heard the news.

But he was not happy. He was worried that another king had been born.

Herod gathered the chief priests and teachers who knew the Scriptures.

He asked where the promised Savior was to be born.

They answered: in Bethlehem.

The prophets' words pointed to that place.

Then Herod spoke to the wise men in secret.

He asked when they had seen the star.

Then he sent them to Bethlehem.

“Look for the child,” he said. “When you find him, tell me so I can go and worship him too.”

But Herod was not being honest. He did not want to worship Jesus.

The wise men continued their journey.

And they saw the star again.

What joy they felt!

The star led them to the place where the child was.

They entered a house and found Jesus with Mary, his mother.

They had arrived.

After searching so long, they could see him.

The wise men bowed down and worshiped him.

Then they opened their treasures.

They offered him gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

These were valuable gifts they had brought to honor him.

Jesus was not in the palace in Jerusalem.

Even so, the wise men worshiped him with joy.

They recognized the king they had come to find.

Their journey did not end there. They still had to return to their own land.

But that night, they received a warning in a dream: they must not return to Herod.

God was guiding them so they would not help the king find the child.

The wise men obeyed.

They chose another road to return home.

They had traveled from very far away.

Now they returned with the memory of a wonderful meeting.

They had met Jesus.

Their gifts stayed with the family, but they took with them a joy that could not fit in any treasure chest.

Mary and Joseph continued caring for the child.

They did not yet know that they would soon have to leave Bethlehem.

The story of Jesus' birth will continue.