The Silence Between Cultures
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea…. behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he, who has been born king of the Jews?”….
When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:1-2, 10-11
Have you ever been a foreigner? Have you traveled or relocated to a place, or visited someone’s home, where the customs and food and even the language were unknown to you? If so, you may have felt the silence between cultures. Bigger than language alone, it contains experiences that another person has never had, traditions and values that can be difficult to explain.
A caravan from the east brings visitors to Bethlehem who must have stood out in that town as much as the star they had followed. The trio we call the wise men, or the three kings, were distant from a Jewish peasant couple in seemingly every way—and still this unlikely grouping of people comes together around a king who can neither speak with them to thank them or teach them, or use the symbolic gifts his visitors have brought. Wealth and poverty, different languages, different cultures: the coming of the wise men has every reason to be an awkward gathering—and maybe it was.
Maybe there were some missteps, or misunderstandings. Maybe Mary and Joseph had no common vocabulary with these visitors from a distant land. Maybe no one knew what to say. But they knew why they were there, and it was reason enough to work through the unfamiliarity.
All of them were there because of Jesus.
Babies transcend culture, don’t they? People who have nothing in common can look together at an infant and smile, and immediately go to the shared language of cooing, touching, and making faces. Jesus arrives on earth on one hand unable to communicate—and on the other, ready to connect with anyone who comes to him.
Today, remember that Jesus brings people together rather than driving them apart. Remember that he has always been surrounded by people from diverse walks of life. If you feel far from home this Christmas, you are welcome at the manger. If you feel isolated by language or tradition or experience, you are welcome at the manger. And if you know someone who needs a place to belong, invite them in, and don’t worry about if they’ll “fit.” Jesus welcomes each of us.
Two versions of “O Holy Night” accompany this meditation: one in English, and one in Korean. Hear the beauty in each.
Songs: “O Holy Night” by YWAM Worship Korea // “O Holy Night” by Maverick City Music
These songs are part of our Silent Nights playlist on Spotify.