This reading from Matthew's gospel forms part of our Advent reflections series. We offer these readings of traditional advent passages as an aid to your devotions, as you prepare your heart for the coming of the Christ child at Christmas.
Featuring original music by Our Healing Space. Text taken from the World English Bible (public domain).
Matthew chapter 2 verses 1 to 14 the visit of the Magi Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod behold wise men from the east came to Jerusalem saying where is he who is born King of the Jews for we saw his star in the east and have come to worship him when King Herod heard it he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people he asked them where the Christ would be born they said to him in Bethlehem of Judea for this is written through the Prophet you Bethlehem land of Judah are in no way least among the princes of Judah for out of you shall come a governor who shall shepherd my people Israel then Herod secretly called the wise men and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared he sent them to Bethlehem and said go and search diligently for the child when you have found him bring me word so that I also may come and worship him they having heard the king went their way and behold the star which they saw in the east went before them until it came and stood over where the young child was when they saw the star they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy they came into the house and saw the young child with Mary his mother and they fell down and worshipped him opening their treasures they offered to him gifts gold frankincense and myrrh being warned in a dream not to return to Herod they went back to their own country another way now when they had departed behold an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream saying arise and take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt and stay there until I tell you the Herod will seek the young child to destroy him he arose and took the young child and his mother by night and departed into Egypt and was there until the death of Herod that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the law through the Prophet saying out of Egypt I have called my son
