The writer of the Gospel of Matthew doesn’t tell us much about exactly who the wise men are or where exactly they’re from. These Magi were not Jewish. So, they had not been waiting around for over 400 years to hear from God, like the Israelites had been. But it seems they had done enough research to know that the star they saw rising in the sky wasn’t just any old star. It awakened hope in their hearts—a hope that didn’t remain theoretical or sentimental—but a hope that compelled them into action. 

Wherever they were coming from, this was not a quick journey. The Magi dedicated a long period of time to their search for the king of the Jews when they embarked on their journey across deserts and foreign land. They left their home, their comforts, and likely even their safety to follow the star.

While most of us probably aren’t planning to spend three months or more walking across a desert fighting exhaustion and homesickness, I imagine we all know what it feels like to hope for something only to be met with seemingly endless setbacks, draining us of energy until our reserves of hope are completely tapped out. This is why hope is nurtured and sustained within the context of community. Just like it was for the magi, the journey of hope can be long and arduous. But we are not meant to walk it alone.

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