By Chase McKnight
One of my favorite Advent stories is when the three wise men are inspired by the star of Bethlehem to go witness the birth of Christ. King Herod, after hearing about the coming of the ruler of the universe, desires to preserve his kingship. He invites the wise men to stop by on their way, secretly planning to obtain the location of Jesus. However, the star bears a divine warning to the men not to return to Herod.
Stars have always been an obsession of humanity. The contrast of bright light in an infinite blackness has been the substance of countless metaphors.
The term ?Morning Star? is used in two main contexts in the Bible. The first describes Lucifer, son of the morning (Luke 10:18). In the second, Jesus unmistakably testifies that He is the morning star (Revelations 22:16). How can two complete opposites be called the same thing? Many theories and interpretations attempting to answer this question exist.
Here's mine.
We live in a world dominated by the idea of dualism. We pretend right and wrong are two sides of a war, when in actuality, they?re closer to the keys of a piano. Sometimes you press the wrong key, and once you?re a trained musician, you'll be able to tell when they don't sound right.
Christ is our morning star because every day, He returns to expel the darkness that plagues us. When Lucifer is referred to as the morning star, it's because every morning when the sun rises, he retreats to the darkness. I like to think of Christ as the sun, and the moon represents all evil. The night will always come, but daylight will always prevail.
To me, Advent is a time of anticipation and reflection. You cannot undo your actions, so don't try. Add them to your scale and keep it balanced. This idea of a dual existence keeps me humble. I know I came from the same dust that comprises the stars, and I know I will return to it in the end.
Lord, give us balance. Let acts of kindness glisten like stars in the darkness; give us the clarity to learn from our mistakes. Give us vision in the night and assurance that dawn will come. Amen.
Chase McKnight is an 11th grader at Dawson High School. He is also a lifelong member of South Main.
