So what is guiding folks to Jesus today?

The story of the 3 Wise Men (we won't go through all that explanation again) offers us what?
What do we learn from this amusing scenario?

That was the basic question I asked last Sunday.  The Wise Men followed a star - a sign that they recognized because of the work they did.  One day they went to work and there it was - the natal star of a new king - and they decided to follow up.

When they arrived in Bethlehem, they found Jesus, and they knelt and offered outrageously useless gifts.......the kind of gifts one gives to a king.  They honored this child, recognized his power (even if they didn't understand it) and gave gifts that were treasures - expensive - important - over the top.

Then (having been warned in a dream that Herod was going to kill them) they took a different route home.  Not the same old route they followed to get there.  Not the familiar (so we don't have to worry about getting lost) route.  They took a turn and the second part of this story follows a different trajectory than the one that brought them to Bethlehem in the first place.

So, here are the questions.  What or who guides people to seek Jesus in today's world?  What would prompt someone who has no real connection to the Jesus story to seek him out and see what it is all about?

When you arrive - when you encounter Jesus - what do you find?  Who is Jesus to you?  Savior?  Healer?  Teacher?  Comforter?  Source of hope?  If your answer is 'Son of God' what exactly do you mean by that?  How does that play out?

Then, finally, how have you been changed by your encounter with Jesus?  How has your life taken a different trajectory?  Few of us have amazing conversion stories; rather we have the stories of long journeys to come to know this Jesus.  We have traveled towards this Holy One for many years.  But how has your life shifted because of your relationship with Jesus?  When you look back, can you mark the places where your encounter with the Living Lord lead you in a new direction - either literally or emotionally?

Work on these questions.  Speak your answers out loud.  Check out your premises in your day to day life.  This is the practice work of a disciple who is getting ready to share this good news with others.

Be the voice of the shepherd calling to the lost sheep.  Don't let silence be the only voice they hear.