Queerying 2nd after Epiphany C

Rev. Emily E. Ewing queeries the Gospel reading.

Gospel: John 2:1-11
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and Mary, the mother of Jesus was there. ²Jesus and his chosen family had also been invited to the wedding. ³When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”

⁴And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.”

⁵His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

⁶Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. ⁷Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.

⁸He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.”

So they took it.

⁹When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the wedding party ¹⁰and said to them, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.”

¹¹Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

Queeries for the text:
The third day after what?
Who gets invited to weddings?
What happens when wine runs out?
When is Jesus' “hour”?
What Jewish rites of purification?
What do servants know?
Why does quality matter?
To whom can this text be harmful? 

What are your queeries?

Queerying Epiphany C

River Needham, MA ThM queeries the Tanakh reading.

Tanakh: Isaiah 60:1-6
Arise, shine, for your light has dawned;
The Presence of the Becoming One has shone upon you!
Behold! Darkness shall cover the earth,
And thick clouds the peoples;
But upon you the Becoming One will shine,
And Their presence be seen over you.
And nations shall walk by your light,
Rulers, by your shining radiance.
Raise your eyes and look about:
They have all gathered and come to you.
Your children shall be brought from afar,
Your offspring like babes on shoulders.
As you behold, you will glow;
Your heart will throb and thrill—
For the wealth of the sea shall pass on to you,
The riches of nations shall flow to you.
Dust clouds of camels shall cover you,
Dromedaries of Midian and Ephah.
They all shall come from Sheba;
They shall bear gold and frankincense,
And shall herald the glories of the Becoming One.

Queeries for the text:
How is darkness good?
How do we see without eyes?
What is the wealth of the seas?
What is a dromedary?

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Rev. Emily E. Ewing queeries the Gospel reading.

Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise ones from the East came to Jerusalem, ²asking, “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.”

³When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; ⁴and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.

⁵They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: ⁶‘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.’”

⁷Then Herod secretly called for the wise ones and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. ⁸Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.”

⁹When they had heard the king, they set out; 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. ¹⁰When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. ¹¹On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

¹²And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

Queeries for the text:
Where is East?
Who observes the stars?
Why was King Herod frightened?
Was the star a secret?
Why did they stop in Jerusalem?
How do you know where the star stops?
What are frankincense and myrrh for?
What other warnings do dreams carry?

What are your queeries?


 

Queerying Epiphany B

River Needham, MA queeries the Tanakh reading.

Tanakh: Isaiah 60:1-6

Get up, for your light has dawned; The Becoming One's essence has shined on you!
Look! Darkness shall cover the earth, the peoples will be covered with thick clouds; But upon you the Becoming One will shine, and Her presence be seen over you. Nations shall walk by your light, sovereigns, by your shining radiance. Raise your eyes and look about: they have all gathered and come to you. Your sons shall be brought from afar, your daughters like babes on shoulders. As you behold, you will glow; your heart will throb and trill—for the wealth of the sea shall pass on to you, the riches of nations shall flow to you. Dust clouds of camels shall cover you, the camels of Midian and Ephah. They all shall come from Sheba; they shall bear gold and frankincense, and shall herald the glories of the Becoming One.

Queeries for the text:

What is the light that has dawned?
How is it the Becoming One's essence?

When else did darkness cover the earth?

What do sons and daughters refer to?
What is the wealth of the sea?
Where is Sheba?

Who heralds the Becoming One today?

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Rev. Emily E. Ewing queeries the Gospel reading.

 

 

Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, witches from the East came to Jerusalem, ²asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born ruler of the Jewish people? For we observed their star at its rising, and have come to pay them homage.’ 

 

³When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; ⁴and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 

 

⁵They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
⁶ “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.” ’

7 Then Herod secretly called for the witches and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. ⁸Then Herod sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found her, bring me word so that I may also go and pay her homage.’ ⁹When they had heard the king, they set out; 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. 

¹⁰When they saw that the star had stopped, the witches were overwhelmed with joy. ¹¹On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered the child gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹²And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, the witches left for their own country by another road.

Queeries for the text:

Who are the witches? What impact does gender have?

Why is Herod frightened?

Who are the religious leaders quoting?  What was it really about?

How do stars guide? When do stars move?

How old was Jesus when the witches arrived?

Why myrrh?

How do encounters change us? Our paths?

What happened next?

 

What are your queeries?

 

 

 

Queerying 4th after Epiphany A

River Needham, M.A., queeries the Tanakh reading.

Tanakh: Micah 6:1-8

Hear what the Becoming One is saying: Come, present my case before the mountains, and let the hills hear you pleading. Listen, you mountains, the case of the Becoming One—you firm foundations of the earth! For the Becoming One has a case against her people, She has a suit against Israel. “My people! What wrong have I done you? What hardship have I caused you? Testify against me. In fact, I brought you up from the land of Egypt, I redeemed you from the house of bondage, and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.

“My people, remember what Balak king of Moab plotted against you, and how Balaam son of Beor responded to him; from Shittim to Gilgal— and you will recognize the gracious acts of the Becoming One.” With what shall I approach the Becoming One, do homage to God on high? Shall I approach Her with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Would the Becoming One be pleased with thousands of rams, with myriads of streams of oil? Shall I give my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for my sins? “She has told you, O human, what is good, and what the Becoming One requires of you: only to do justice and to love goodness, and to walk modestly with your God.”
Imbolc, Brigid, Nature, Trials, Slavery, Karbanot, Fight for 15, modesty

Queeries for the text:
What else is happening today, liturgically? In other faiths?
What do mountains listen to?
Does the Becoming One also have a case against the united states? What is that case?
As this text echoes the Parashot, or Torah readings this month, what does it mean to read this text through Christian eyes, who do not have the same history of religious oppression? What might it mean to read this text through white eyes, who do not have a history of slavery?
What kinds of offerings is the text proposing? Why is God not satisfied with any of them?
What is good and just?
How is modesty helpful and harmful?

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Rev. Emily E. Ewing queeries the Gospel reading.

Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12
 
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, Jesus' disciples came to him. ²Then Jesus began to speak, and taught them, saying:
³“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the reign of heaven.
⁴“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
⁵“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
⁶“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
⁷“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
⁸“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
⁹“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
¹⁰“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the reign of heaven.
¹¹“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. ¹²Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Queeries for the text:
What did we skip?  Why does it matter?
Who are the poor in spirit?
Who are the meek?
Who hunger and thirst for righteousness?
Who are the peacemakers?  Who aren't?
Who are reviled and persecuted?

What are your queeries?

Queerying 2nd after Epiphany A

River Needham, M.A., queeries the Tanakh reading.

Tanakh: Isaiah 49:1-7

Listen, O coastlands, to me, and give heed, O nations afar: the Becoming One appointed me before I was born, She named me while I was in my parent’s womb. She made my mouth like a sharpened blade, She hid me in the shadow of Her hand, and She made me like a polished arrow; She concealed me in Her quiver. She said to me, “You are my servant, Israel in whom I glory.” I thought, “I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for empty breath.” But my case rested with the Becoming One, my recompense was in the hands of my God.

Now the Becoming One has resolved—She who formed me in the womb to be Her servant—to bring back Jacob to Herself, that Israel may be restored to Her. I have been honored in the sight of the Becoming One, my God has been my strength. For She has said: “It is too little that you should be my servant in that I raise up the tribes of Jacob and restore the survivors of Israel: I will also make you a light of nations, that My salvation may reach the ends of the earth.”

Thus said the Becoming One, the Redeemer of Israel, her Holy One, to the despised one, to the abhorred nations, to the slave of rulers: kings shall see and stand up; nobles, and they shall prostrate themselves—to the honor of the Becoming One, who is faithful, to the Holy One of Israel who chose you.

Queeries for the text:
What naming customs might the Becoming One use?
Who else does God hide with her hand?
What else is in God's quiver? What might be a different metaphor for use today?
What might it mean to labor in vain?
Who might be restored today? Who are the survivors today?
Who or what is the darkness of the nations? How is darkness a gift?
What other scripture passages does this text bring up in your mind?

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Rev. Emily E. Ewing queeries the Gospel reading.

Gospel: John 1:29-42

²⁹The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! ³⁰This is the one of whom I said, ‘After me comes one who ranks ahead of me because they were before me.’ ³¹I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that this one might be revealed to Israel.”

³²And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. ³³I myself did not know this one, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ ³⁴And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Child of God.”

³⁵The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, ³⁶and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!”

³⁷The two disciples heard John say this, and they followed Jesus. ³⁸When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?”

They said to Jesus, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?”

³⁹Jesus said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where Jesus was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. ⁴⁰One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. ⁴¹Andrew first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed).

⁴²He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at Simon and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).


Queeries for the text:
The next day after what?
Why did John not know Jesus?
What do we testify to?
Is John trying to get rid of followers?
Was where Jesus was staying really that enticing?
Why does the time of day matter?
Why do we use Peter's translated name and not "Anointed" for Messiah?

What are your queeries?

Queerying 5th after Epiphany year C

Periodic Queerier, River Needham, queeries the Tanakh reading.

Tanakh: Isaiah 6:1-13
In the year that King Uzziah died, I beheld my Becoming One seated on a high and lofty throne;

and the skirts of Faer robe filled the temple.

Seraphs stood in attendance on Faer.

Each of them had six wings: with two she covered her face,

with two she covered her feet,

and with two she would fly.

And one would call to the other, “Holy, holy, holy!

The Becoming one, ruler of Angel Armies!

Faens presence fills all the earth!”

The doorposts would shake at the sound of the one who called,

and the House kept filling with smoke.

I cried, “Woe is me; I am lost!

For I am a human of unclean lips

and I live among a people of unclean lips;

yet my own eyes have beheld

the Faerie Queen, the Becoming One, ruler of Angel Armies.”

Then one of the seraphs flew over to me with a live coal,

which she had taken from the altar

with a pair of tongs.

She touched it to my lips and declared,

“Now that this has touched your lips,

your guilt shall depart and your sin be purged away.”

Then I heard the voice of the Becoming One, my ruler saying,

“Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?”

So, I said, “Here am I; send me.”

Then, Fae said, “Go, say to that people:

‘Hear, indeed, but do not understand;

See, indeed, but do not grasp.’

Dull that people’s mind, stop its ears, and seal its eyes—

lest, seeing with its eyes,
and hearing with its ears,

it also grasp with its mind, and repent and save itself.”

I asked, “How long, my ruler?”
Fae replied: “Till towns lie waste without inhabitants and houses without people,

and the ground lies waste and desolate—

for the Becoming One will banish the population—

and deserted sites are many in the midst of the land.

“But while a tenth part yet remains in it, it shall repent. It shall be ravaged like the terebinth and the oak, of which stumps are left even when they are felled: its stump shall be a holy seed.”

Queeries for the text:
Who is King Uzziah?
How big is a skirt to fill the entire temple? What might this say about faer body?
Where else does woe show up in the Tanakh?
What might a seraphim look like?
What other religions have a faerie queen?
Do the Angel Armies participate in war? Is peace on earth possible?
What does coal do when it touches land?
Is the Becoming One ableist in Faer prophecy?
What does the Becoming One's exiling of Faer people say about Faer?
What is terebinth?

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Rev. Emily E. Ewing queeries the Gospel reading.

Gospel: Luke 5:1-11
Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret,

and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God,

²he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake;

the fishers had gone out of them

and were washing their nets.

³Jesus got into one of the boats,

the one belonging to Simon,

and asked him to put out a little way from the shore.

Then Jesus sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.

⁴When Jesus had finished speaking,

he said to Simon,

“Put out into the deep water

and let down your nets for a catch.”

⁵Simon answered,

“Master, we have worked all night long

but have caught nothing.

Yet if you say so,

I will let down the nets.”

⁶When they had done this,

they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break.

⁷So they signaled their partners in the other boat

to come and help them.

And they came and filled both boats,

so that they began to sink.

⁸But when Simon Peter saw it,

he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying,

“Go away from me, Lord,

for I am a sinful man!”

⁹For Simon and all who were with him were amazed

at the catch of fish that they had taken;

¹⁰and so also were James and John,

sons of Zebedee,

who were partners with Simon.

Then Jesus said to Simon,

“Do not be afraid;

from now on you will be catching people.”

¹¹When they had brought their boats to shore,

they left everything and followed Jesus.

Queeries for the text:
Where is lake of Gennesaret?
How far is "a little way"?
Why did Simon Peter fall at Jesus' knees instead of Jesus' feet?
How do you teach in a boat to people on the shore?
What did Jesus say to the crowd?  Did Jesus ask before just hopping into the boat?
Did they normally fish in deep water?
How many fish do you need to make a boat sink?
Are Simon and Simon Peter the same person?
Why does Simon/Simon Peter want Jesus to go away?  What is he ashamed of?
Is catching humans a good thing?
Who took over the abandoned boats?

What are your queeries?

Queerying 2nd after Epiphany

This week, we're dedicating Queerying The Text to the memory of the Rev. Gordon Straw. Rev. Straw, an enrolled member of the Brothertown Indian Nation and an ever-growing force in Lutheran theological education, influenced both of us: Emily as a mentor and colleague and River as a professor and trusted mentor. You might notice Rev. Straw's influence flowing through our Queeries this week.

-Emily and River

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Periodic queerier, River Needham, queeries the reading from the Tanakh.

Tanakh: Isaiah 62:1-5
For the sake of Zion I will not be silent,

for the sake of Jerusalem I will not be still,

till her victory emerge resplendent and her triumph like a flaming torch.

Nations shall see your victory, and every ruler your majesty;

and you shall be called by a new name

which the Becoming One herself shall bestow.

You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of the Becoming One,

and a royal diadem in the palm of your God.

Nevermore shall you be called “Forsaken,”

Nor shall your land be called “Desolate”;

But you shall be called “I delight in her,”

and your land “Espoused.”

For the Becoming One takes delight in you, and your land shall be espoused.

As a youth espouses a maiden, your sons shall espouse you;

and as a bridegroom rejoices over their bride,

so will your God rejoice over you.

Queeries for the text:
Who is Jerusalem fighting?
Where else might we use flaming torches today?  How are flaming torches harmful?
Which nations are treated unfairly today?
How are new names important?
What is a diadem?
Who is desolate, or has been forsaken? How does God delight in them?

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Rev. Emily E. Ewing queeries the reading from the Gospel.

Gospel: John 2:1-11
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee,

and the mother of Jesus was there.

²Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.

³When the wine gave out,

the mother of Jesus said to him,

“They have no wine.”

⁴And Jesus said to her,

“Woman, what concern is that to you and to me?

My hour has not yet come.”

⁵Jesus' mother said to the servants,

“Do whatever he tells you.”

⁶Now standing there were six stone water jars

for the Jewish rites of purification,

each holding twenty or thirty gallons.

⁷Jesus said to the servants,

“Fill the jars with water.”

And they filled them up to the brim.

⁸Jesus said to them,

“Now draw some out,

and take it to the chief steward.”

So they took it.

⁹When the steward tasted the water that had become wine,

and did not know where it came from

(though the servants who had drawn the water knew),

the steward called the bridegroom ¹⁰and said to him,

“Everyone serves the good wine first,

and then the inferior wine

after the guests have become drunk.

But you have kept the good wine until now.”

¹¹Jesus did this,

the first of his signs,

in Cana of Galilee,

and revealed his glory;

and his disciples believed in him.

Queeries for the text:
On which third day?
Who was getting married in Cana?  How were Jesus, his mom, all the disciples and the wedding couple connected?  What other connections were there?
How did the mother of Jesus know he could fix the wine problem?
Who were the servants?  What was Jesus' mom's role at the wedding?
How much is 20-30 gallons?
What is the chief steward's role?
Is it good to have good wine late?  Why does it matter?
How many other signs are there?
Why does it matter that it was in Cana of Galilee?  How is location important?
Why is belief connected to the wine?
What is glory?

What are your queeries?

Queerying Epiphany

Periodic queerier, River Needham, queeries today's reading from the Tanakh.

Tanakh - Isaiah 60:1-6

Arise, shine, for your light has dawned;

The Presence of the Becoming One has shone upon you!

Behold! Darkness shall cover the earth, And thick clouds the peoples;

But upon you the Becoming One will shine, and
Their presence be seen over you.

And nations shall walk by your light, Kings, by your shining radiance.

Raise your eyes and look about: the nations have all gathered and come to you.

Some of your children shall be brought from afar,

Other children like babes on shoulders.

As you behold, you will glow; your heart will throb and thrill— for the wealth of the sea shall pass on to you, the riches of nations shall flow to you.
Dust clouds of camels shall cover you, dromedaries of Midian and Ephah.
They all shall come from Sheba; They shall bear gold and frankincense, and shall herald the glories of the Becoming One.

Queeries for the text:
What light has dawned?
What is the Presence of the Becoming One?
What is darkness?
Where else does The Becoming One shine?
What is this Shining Radiance?
Can you be brought from afar on shoulders? What does this imply about those traveling?
Where else do hearts throb and thrill?

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Rev. Emily E. Ewing queeries today's gospel reading.

Gospel - Matthew 2:1-12
In the time of King Herod,

after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,

magi from the East came to Jerusalem,

²asking, “Where is the child who has been born ruler of the Jews?

For we observed their star at its rising,

and have come to pay them homage.”

³When King Herod heard this,

he was frightened,

and all Jerusalem with him;

⁴and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people,

he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.

⁵They told him,

“In Bethlehem of Judea;

for so it has been written by the prophet:

⁶‘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.’”

⁷Then Herod secretly called for the magi

and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared.

⁸Then he sent them to Bethlehem,

saying, “Go and search diligently for the child;

and when you have found him,

bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.”

⁹When they had heard the king,

the magi set out;

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.

¹⁰When they saw that the star had stopped,

the magi were overwhelmed with joy.

¹¹On entering the house,

they saw the child with Mary his mother;

and they knelt down and paid him homage.

Then, opening their treasure chests,

they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

¹²And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,

they left for their own country by another road.

Queeries for the text:
What are magi and which one is Jesus' star?
Why was all Jerusalem frightened with King Herod?
Why didn't Herod know where the Messiah was to be born?  Which prophet wrote that?
Why did Herod call the magi back secretly?
Why does Herod assume the baby will be a boy?
What does it feel like to be overwhelmed with joy?
When did the Holy Family get a house?
How many magi were there?  How did they make it across so many lands?  Why gold, frankincense, and myrrh?
What warnings are dreams bringing today?
How can we take another road?

What are your queeries?

Queerying Epiphany Music

Epiphany and the season after it are upon us!  As with Christmas, I've made a playlist!  There are some songs that are familiar to me, having grown up in the church.  Songs like We Three Kings and the First Noel will show up a few different times in this playlist.  In this playlist there are also other songs, some I found on my own and some that were suggested by friends.  

Unlike my Christmas playlist, this playlist is intentionally organized.  It begins from the perspective of the wise ones, or magi, includes their whole journey and the fall-out in the Slaughter of the Holy Innocents, and moves into Jesus' Baptism and the season after Epiphany, a season characterized by more light coming into the world as well as glimpses of God's glory being made manifest in the ordinary of life.  The playlist ends with Transfiguration, which we celebrate the Sunday before Ash Wednesday. 

My playlists are never set in stone.  Like a good Lutheran, the canon on my seasonal playlists remains open.  Feel free to suggest additional songs or ask me why I picked certain ones (it may just be the title...or the actual lyrics.  Rarely, if ever, will the answer be the tune...I just don't know how to music like that).  Check out the playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/user/22zoaq4yqbmnlyw5dfzp4mfty/playlist/4AcxpqhIOZnxmkq0uDHOvE

epiphany year b - matthew

Matthew 2:1-12

In the time of King Herod,

     after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,

          wise ones from the East came to Jerusalem, ²asking,

               “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.” 

³When King Herod heard this,

     he was frightened,

     and all Jerusalem with him; 

     ⁴and calling together 

          all the chief priests 

          and scribes of the people,

          he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 

     ⁵They told him,

          “In Bethlehem of Judea;

               for so it has been written by the prophet: 

                    ⁶‘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.’” 

     ⁷Then Herod secretly called for the wise ones

          and learned from them the exact time 

               when the star had appeared. 

          ⁸Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying,

               “Go and search diligently for the child;

                    and when you have found him,

                         bring me word 

                              so that I may also go 

                              and pay him homage.”

⁹When they had heard the king,

     they set out;

     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. 

          ¹⁰When they saw that the star had stopped,

               they were overwhelmed with joy. 

          ¹¹On entering the house,

               they saw the child with Mary his mother;

               and they knelt down and paid him homage.

               Then, opening their treasure chests,

                    they offered him gifts 

                         of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 

        ¹²And having been warned in a dream 

               not to return to Herod,

                    they left for their own country by another road.

Queeries for the text

How many magi were there?

Were the wise ones really magicians?  Witches and wizards?  Did their descendants know Harry Potter?

How long does it take to travel from the Far East to Bethlehem?

If Herod hadn't noticed, were Mary and Joseph planning on raising Jesus in Bethlehem?

Does that mean they found a home to live in during Jesus' first couple years of life?

Why do powerful men feel so threatened by those who are most vulnerable?

What do you do with awkward gifts?

Did Mary keep the frankincense and myrrh as they fled to Egypt as undocumented refugees?

What are your queeries?