The story of Mary and Martha, in which the Reformation saw the prototype of its evangelical understanding of the church, has a special message for the young theologian today. Just as in that extraordinary situation created by Jesus’ visit, so in membership of the church, which is the body of Christ, hearing ranks above doing. The retribution comes if this order is reversed, if Martha’s self-confident “busyness” prevails unchecked in the house of the church. And if, as in the case of the minister, that “activity” consists in “speaking,” then it is almost certainly to be feared that the disregard of that evangelical rule of precedence will corrupt the future minister from the beginning and turn him into a mere “speaker,” or even a “talker.” In a truly evangelical interpretation of theological study the very opposite is meant. The purpose of this study is to help and guide the student so that in his future ministry also he will remain first and last a hearer. It is not his ministerial utterance and most certainly not his glib and fluent oratory which saves his congregation, but the Word of God. The living, occurring miracle of this Word makes pure hearing the fundamental law of human existence. And he himself, the messenger of this miracle, will never be done with hearing this divine Word. He must be glad to remain a hearer and a learner, a “child and pupil of the Catechism,” as Luther declared himself to be, and therefore to the end, a student of theology.

Doerne, Martin
cited by: Doberstein, John W. Minister’s Prayer Book, pg. 31

The Magi faced a long journey to see the King of the Jews. But when they arrived in Bethlehem, the longest and hardest journey of the Magi had actually just begun. The most difficult journey would be the one to their knees. The Child lying in the manger did not look like a king, and He wasn’t in a palace. The attendants surrounding him were unimpressive.

Douthwaite, James. The Longest Journey
Jan. 8, 2002. Portals of Prayer, Vol. LXV, No. 374

Comment: Without a miracle, without a resurrection, without the voice of the Father saying, "This is my beloved Son," these magi trusted the star and saw in this little child a king who defied reason. In this day of politics, would such a humble king receive our vote, our honor?

When King Herod was nearing death, Josephus writes, “[H]e got together the most illustrious men of the whole Jewish nation, out of every village into a place called the Hippodrome and there shut them in. He then called for sister Salome and her husband Alexas, and made this speech to them: ‘I know well enough that the Jews will keep a festival upon my death; however, it is in my power to be mourned for on other accounts, and to have a splendid funeral, if you will be but subservient to my commands. Do you but take care to send soldiers to encompass these men that are now in custody and slay them immediately upon my death, and then all Judea and every family of them, will weep at it whether they will or no.’” This order, however, was not carried out at his death.

Jospehus. Bell. Jud. 1,33,6
cited by: Wenzel, Rev.F.W. The Wenzel Commentary – Harmony of the Gospels, p. 54

Comments: The final vision that made Scrooge realize he had lived his life selfishly was an unmourned grave. To me a true marker of a 'successful' life would be a funeral where people praised God for the faith he gave me, which showed itself in love and self-sacrifice... a funeral where people trusted that they would see me again in heaven thanks to Jesus.

When wise men (known as magi) arrived in Jerusalem looking for the one who had been born king of the Jews, they weren’t simply at the right place at the right time. They had seen his star. Far, far to the east, these ancient men of knowledge and learning had looked up and seen the beacon that God had made. It was as if God had shot up a signal flare telling everyone to come and see the new baby king. So they came to Jerusalem to pay homage to him.

Backus, James. They found the Savior. He found you. p. 3
Lightsource, Vol. 29, Is. 2

Comment: Again, a little early for Christmas, but that's where I am in my alphabetical listing.

Leprosy: “Death by inches.”

Jeske, John C.

Comment: Often sin is compared to leprosy. Thank God there is a cure, a purification in Christ!