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For
a year, I had watched Jupiter travel across the night skies from East to
West. It was much more in the western sky when Venus popped out in January,
very close to the western horizon. They were the brightest early evening
planets or stars. Each evening the two planets came closer. In February,
it seemed that these two planets would intersect even though they are 400
million miles apart. "Where on earth would one perhaps see the two planets
intersect, much like a lunar eclipse?" I mused.
My answer
came the next day as I read the February 24 Reuters report: "Venus and Jupiter
may have created the Star of Bethlehem. According to scientists, this same
phenomena may have occurred 2,000 years ago, giving rise to the story of
the Three Wise Men. In Bethlehem, the church bells pealed after dark, where
according to Christian tradition a brightly shining star beckoned the three
wise men to discover Jesus' birthplace."
"Because of the situation of Earth, Venus, and Jupiter,
you can see them close to each other," said Yigal Pat-El, head of the Israel
Astronomy Association who watched the rare convergence--called a conjunction
through a powerful telescope in Givatayim near Tel Aviv. He continued, "About
2,000 years ago, this conjunction did occur, but so very, very close that
perhaps you could not distinguish between the two planets with the naked
eye." |
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The
Star of Bethlehem, always trying to make a conjunction with our very heart
and soul. God has unusual ways of beckoning the wise and foolish, the
poor and feeble, the rich and independent, to view a convergence of His
love and our futility, His grace and our humanity.
 A
Suggested Prayer from Psalm 8:
"God, when I look at the heavens, which You made with your
hands, I see the moon and stars, which you created. Why is man so
important to you? Why do you wish to take care of us, human beings?
Why am I so important to You? I thank You for being there, a Star
in which I can follow. Forgive my sins and start a new work within
me so that I can be crowned with glory and honor. Your name is the
most wonderful name in all the earth! Amen!" |
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