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Preaching: Rev. Dr. Stephen M. Fearing

Texts: Matthew 2:1-12, 16-18

A star rises over a troubled world and we’re left with a choice: move the way fear moves, or let love lead us down another road. We follow Matthew’s story of the Magi and Herod to explore how power panics, how people brace for the fallout, and how a quiet act of reverence can become a bold act of resistance. The journey isn’t neat or sentimental; it’s about holding fear and curiosity together long enough to see where the light actually points.

We dig into what the text says—and what tradition added—about the Magi’s number, status, and gender, opening space to imagine women among these border-crossing seekers. That reframe draws a line back to the women of Exodus who defied Pharaoh and preserved life, and forward to anyone who chooses truth over intimidation today. When the Magi kneel before a vulnerable child and then refuse to return to Herod, they model a way of faith that honors the holy and rejects complicity.

From there, we connect the ancient playbook to our present. Leaders still stoke fear, justify harm as peace, and divide communities to protect power. Jesus’ early life as a refugee confronts that logic, and his ministry shows a different pattern: healing, solidarity, and courage that lets love run wild. With a nudge from Rumi’s “Keep Walking,” we ask practical questions for the new year: Who are today’s Magi crossing borders for love and truth? Who are the Marys at our doors? Where do we need to take another road?

If this reflection helps you see the path a bit clearer, share it with a friend, subscribe for more thoughtful sermons, and leave a review with your answer: Which road are you choosing this week?

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