“In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.”” Matthew 2:1-2
Today, December 21, Saturn and Jupiter will align into a beautiful bright star. This will be the first time they align like this since the Middle Ages.
According to astronomers, the last time these two planets aligned like this was on March 4, 1226.
“Alignments between these two planets are rather rare, occurring once every 20 years or so, but this conjunction is exceptionally rare because of how close the planets will appear to be to one another. You’d have to go all the way back to just before dawn on March 4, 1226, to see a closer alignment between these objects visible in the night sky,” Hartigan (an astronomer) said in a statement.
The spectacular sighting will be viewable from anywhere on earth. “The planets will appear low in the western sky for about an hour after sunset as viewed from the northern hemisphere, and though they’ll be closest on December 21, you can look each evening this week. Although the sight will be sinking towards the horizon, it will be bright enough to be viewed in at twilight. All you need is an unobstructed view to the southwest, and to look to the southwest from about 45 minutes after sunset where you are,”
This is such a great opportunity just days from Christmas to put yourself in the shoes of the Magi. Think about their excitement. They had just tracked across wide ranging plains and deserts. They had maybe traveled for weeks on nothing but faith. They had read the old writings and saw the star in the sky.
If you had nothing more to go on, would you make this journey? Would you have the faith to go out into the wild with nothing more than an educated guess and faith?
“‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’” Matthew 2:6
That question aside though. Now you are getting close. You can see how the star in hanging in the sky that it is drawing you to a more specific direction.
“and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.” Matthew 2:9-10
See there before you, lying in a manger and wrapped in swaddling clothing is a small baby. Is this the King you expected? Even more so. This is God, humbled Who is lying before your eyes. “On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage.” Matthew 2:11
Your eyes fall upon this baby. How can someone so small be so great – the Great I AM? As your eyes settle upon His eyes, you know! And, falling to your knees, give Him honor and praise. As you raise your eyes back to His Holy Face, you notice He is looking at you. He knows exactly who you are and all you’ve done in your long journey through dark nights and scary wilderness to find Him. And, knowing that journey through so many sins, He smiles at you.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” John 3:16-17
“Write this: before I come as the just Judge, I am coming first as the King of Mercy. Before the day of justice arrives, there will be given to people a sign in the heavens of this sort: All light in the heavens will be extinguished, and there will be great darkness over the whole earth. Then the sign of the cross will be seen in the sky, and from the openings where the hands and the feet of the Savior were nailed will come forth great lights which will light up the earth for a period of time. This will take place shortly before the last day.” Divine Mercy in my soul # 83