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The appearance of Comet McNaught in southern skies over recent weeks has provoked conversation in our household about the star at Christmas which lead the wise men to the infant Jesus. How we actually perceive that star reflects some interesting challenges in the faith conversation. Did the wise men "follow the stars" in the same way that astrology is understood, rather than geographically lighting up the manger like a neon sign? Or was it a comet such as this one? Or a peculiar manifestation of a star or planet in the night sky? How we picture in our mind the text of scripture goes a long way towards interpreting the text for us.
My original perspective on the text was of a giant star hovering over a manger - a Christmas Card special, painted in the night sky for all to see. But I have yet to see the night sky produce anything approaching a similar effect. And knowing that the stars track across the sky during the night makes it even more problematic, not to mention the issue of whether or not the star appeared on consecutive nights for a lengthy period. What if it rained?
It is more likely that the wise men were astrologers, who read the stars and were alerted to the fact that something special was afoot in history, of cosmic proportions. But then, there are other presuppositions brought to the text which cause us to baulk at such a notion.
It is an interesting concept to explore, not without practical implications. God has the strange habit of appearing to us in ways which contradict his own theology..>! (or was that mine?8^0)
Posted by gary at January 30, 2007 02:16 PM
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