Heirs of the Magi First Christmas



  Heirs of the Magi First Christmas

  By Steve Leggett

  Copyright 2013 – Steve Leggett

  Cover Image by Kayla Leggett - Copyright 2013 - Used by Permission

  ISBN: 978-0-9867537-7-0

  Books by Steve Leggett

  Heirs of the Magi Trilogy

  Magi Sanctuary

  Magi Master

  Magi Ascension (Forthcoming)

  Heirs of the Magi Archives

  Cassie's Journal 2011

  Cassie's Journal 2012 - Part One

  Cassie’s Journal 2012 – Part Two

  Cassie’s Journal 2013 – Part One

  The Catalyst Chronicles

  The Catalyst is Born

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  The Journey

  The Visit to Jerusalem

  Meeting Joseph, Mary, and Jesus in Nazareth

  The Magi Journal for our Lord Savior, the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth

  Chronology of Events and Comments from Magi Master Julie Proctor

  Notes

  *****

  Prologue

  As foretold by the seers, the sign in the heavens appeared, announcing that the Son of God was come among us, and we prepared for the journey that we might go and worship the one who would, through his ultimate love for us, sacrifice himself so that we could have salvation through him.

  [Translated, modernized, and compiled from multiple archive sources by Magi Master Julie Proctor. This includes writings from both Magi Masters and other Magi of the Light who made this first Christmas pilgrimage together.]

  The Journey

  It was not meant to be, but I would have loved to be there for HIS birth! I’ve dreamed of it these past few nights as we worked long days to make ready for the difficult journey from our mountain home to the land of the Chosen peoples. We were finally on our way this morning, though the path down out of our mountains is treacherous and slow; and it will take days more before we will be free of them.

  The heights aid in protecting us from our enemies; and the isolation allows us the privacy for our studies and work; but it does make going out among the people – as we need to do from time-to-time – difficult. Starting this journey would have been impossible in the deep of winter, but it is only late August now, and we are thankful that the weather should mostly remain fair for the next several weeks – and longer still as we move into the more moderate climates of the lowlands.

  Our Magi Masters are all calm and focused on the simple tasks we face each step of the way, but I cannot help but feel anxious and overwhelmed at being chosen to be part of this all-important mission. We are not alone as God is with us as surely as he is now with all people as never before; but I still worry that I will not be strong enough. Fortunately, my role in this endeavor is small compared to what will be required of others – particularly the Masters.

  After the long, hard hours of riding, setting up our camp was difficult for those of us unused to travelling far from our home; and I am exhausted as I write this by dimming firelight. The Masters are nearby in the darkness, making their plans; studying the heavens; and keeping us protected. I know not how they have the energy to keep going. I would be hard pressed to re-light the fire with my mind as numb as it is now – and this is after just one day!

  My more worldly friends assure me it will get easier. I hope they are right, because while I know that the Masters would heal me if necessary; I do not wish to distract them from more important matters just to ease my pain and discomfort.

  ***

  We have been clear of our mountains a week now, and must travel with great caution. We are strangers to most people in all lands; and our enemies have those who keep constant watch for us. The other Masters and I do what we can to mask our passing, but we must meet with the local people regularly to procure food and water for ourselves and our animals. Fortunately, food is in abundance here, and willing sellers for everything we need.

  The empires, cities, and politics have risen and fallen in the long centuries since we – the Magi of the Light – migrated to our current home, but the peoples and land have stayed much the same. While the goal of our journey is of highest importance, that does not keep us from observing and learning as we travel. Knowledge is a power too, and our gifts allow us to learn much. One of my tasks is to read and memorize everything we come across, and though it would be preferable to take copies along with us; that is not possible on this trip, so I will create those copies from memory once we return home.

  While we travel toward Jerusalem and are kept busy with our day-to-day tasks; my mind wanders and I think often about what must be happening with our Lord Savior. There has been wide-ranging speculation among the Masters about how his time in the womb and first days since his birth will have compared to that of the Magi and Masters. One group believes that God may have allowed the pregnancy to be the same as for normal humans; while others postulate that he has – and will be – even more aware than Magi Masters are during those times of our lives. Maybe we will be allowed to learn the answer to that once we meet the baby. I wonder at that too – what it will be like to physically be in God’s presence instead of communing with Him as we can on the higher plane now.

  That wondrous day is still thousands of miles of travel away, and as I ponder those future events; I am also filled with joy and excitement almost constantly. Even when we move through wilderness, there is much to learn and experience. My limited travels until now have mostly been to the east, and though I have studied much to prepare for this mission; the experiences greatly exceed my dreams and imaginings. I marvel at both the natural and man-made wonders; and there is something new and amazing around every corner and on the other side of every hill.

  It is early September, but now that we are down out of the mountains, the weather has mostly remained fair; and even the brief rains we have had have been warm and light. The weather today was warm and sunny, and we covered a goodly distance before setting up our camp for the night. Tomorrow we will reach a minor trade route road that should allow us to travel more quickly; though we will continue to be very cautious; and intend to avoid most of the major commerce centers along the way. I am in charge of the wards and shields tonight, so that requires my constant attention and vigil, but we have not encountered any of the Dark Ones yet; and have been able to turn away the few bandit groups that have taken an interest in us without difficulty.

  Each of us fears a confrontation with our ancient foe, but we hope that we will avoid drawing the attention of any the Black Magi to us – and pray that none of them are seeking the child; though that is very unlikely. Their ultimate Master will surely be attempting to thwart the will of God at every turn; just as he has since the beginning. With all of the darkness in the world today, the fallen one may even believe he has won, but it is into that darkness that the Light has come to show us the way; and His will cannot be denied. It is time for what will be one of the greatest Ascensions of the Light of all time past and future; and all evil should tremble; though they will not even understand the path that will be taken to bring them low.

  ***

  Today is Yom Kippur for the Jewish peoples, and for us – the Magi of the Light – we rejoice that our Savior is being presented at the Temple as the law requires. This most momentous event will go virtually unnoticed by all but a chosen few in Jerusalem; which is exactly as is meant to be. Jesus can best be protected right now in his anonymity.

  While we remain far away even as we draw inexorably closer to the Lord; Jesus and his parents will soon be travelling too – returning home to Nazareth now that they have fulfilled their religious dutie
s. It will be there, at their home, in Nazareth that we will meet them; though we have other tasks to complete before that wondrous day will be upon us. Discerning some of those tasks is one of my responsibilities as the strongest Seer among our group; and I have come to understand that God is purposefully keeping the vision of our future cloudy so that we will only see what we need to know in time to prepare ourselves for each of those moments.

  Our excursions into the possibilities of the future have mostly been done while we’re camped for the night, so we occupy our minds with the here and now as we travel during the day. Learning all that we can about the places and people amongst us is fascinating, and I am currently learning all I can about the Parthian Priesthood that has evolved from the Magi of the Median Empire. While they took our name for their own, those priests have never been true Magi of the Light; and I have seen some indications that the religion that has evolved during the centuries since the Medes were defeated by their Persian cousins may have been corrupted by one or more of the Black Ones for reasons only they can know.

  Though we retain a fairly complete history of the Medes, their empire, and the Magi Caste that lead their religion; that knowledge is already being lost here – as is often the fate of defeated empires. The contemporary religion of the region we are currently travelling through has become a mix of science, myth, and fiction. Some basic truths remain, but they mostly seem to be there to support the weight of the lies that have been woven around them to fool the people and keep the new ‘priests’ in power. That is an ages-old tactic of evil, and even the arrival of our Lord and Savior will not change that.

  ***

  Today we bought food from a farmer who was quite happy to deal with us and save at least one trip to whichever of the nearby towns he would normally visit to sell his crops and animals. I mention this only because seeing the families together at that farm has again reminded me of how much I miss my wife, children, and the rest of my family. The first days away from them were the hardest, but the ache of being apart from them never leaves me. The separation from our loved ones is difficult for all of us; but we have also had ample proof to validate the Seers’ assertions that it would not be safe to bring our wives or children along even though it means being apart from them for three-quarters of a year or more.

  Since I am thinking about families tonight, my musings have also wandered to the young family we are journeying to meet; and I wonder what is happening there. They must be home in Nazareth by now, and getting back to their normal lives; but how are Mary and Joseph handling being parents for the Son of God? What is our infant Lord Savior like? Do the rest of Mary’s and Joseph’s families know the truth about the babe yet? Does everyone in their community? How are they reacting if they do?

  As the parent of Magi Master children, I know first-hand how difficult it is to keep up with our incredibly inquisitive newborns. Those times were joyous for us, certainly; but also trying and exhausting. If Jesus is anything like our children, he will already be learning far faster than normal human babies; and I have no idea how his parents will deal with that – or if they’ll even be aware of it; since they do not have the advantages and talents that Magi parents often just take for granted.

  We will learn some of those answers when we eventually meet them; but I cannot resist imagining what it must be like for Mary to nurse her baby knowing whom it is she holds at her breast; or what her son might have to say about such things as soiled diapers. Jesus may already be able to read, but might not have anything in their home to read. If he is like my children, and does not require nearly as much sleep as normal babies; I hope he has stimulating things to do when he is awake – though I doubt that his parents will be able to offer the kinds of stimuli that we can give our Magi babies.

  Whatever the situation is for them right now, they are at least now at home; together as a family; and I have no doubt that there must be a lot of love in their home – after all, God really is literally there with them!

  Though I cannot be with my family too, they are always in my heart, thoughts, and prayers; and I eagerly await the day when we are united again.

  ***

  There seems to be an endless parade of festivals everywhere as we continue our journey, and there are more and more travelers - particularly the merchants that are beginning to feel the urgency to return to distant homes before winter and others hauling harvests from the countryside to the cities that will keep the people fed through the winter. More travelers also bring out bandits; and we have needed to be even more vigilant in protecting ourselves. There was an attack just two nights ago, and I was among the wounded that the Masters needed to heal.

  We have taken turns going into the villages and towns to observe these celebrations, but I have not joined one of those groups in some time. Studying the people of this region objectively seems to be more difficult for me than it is for others; and I am grateful that the Masters understand this and do not press me into that service. Fortunately, there are many other tasks to which I am better suited; and I am at peace.

  Our journey is now half-done – at least for this important first part of our mission. While many of us are travel-weary and worn; we are also well-seasoned now and have no difficulty with the day-to-day work. My struggles with home-sickness have faded too, and that is for the best; as I may be among the chosen who will not be returning to our mountains again in the spring – though I selfishly pray that I will be spared that monumental task as well.

  Yes, my brothers and sisters who are reading this in the future, I understand what a joy and honor it will be for those who will surreptitiously watch over our Lord Savior, and it will be a wonder to behold our God in human form; but I am a simple man, and the ways of the world overwhelm me.

  I do not have the Sight, and cannot know what my future will bring; but I will persevere, and follow wherever my God and the Masters lead.

  ***

  The Masters have set each of us the task of writing down our experiences and thoughts during our journey. Some have told me that they write with future generations in mind or for other, equally grandiose reasons. If you have read this far into my humble journal, you know by now that it is not grand or exciting; but I believe the little details are important in their own way too. With that always in mind, I will continue to write about the common and mundane that fills up the most part of our days – just as it does for most people throughout the world.

  Tonight, I wish to write about the textiles and clothing of the Parthian Empire through which we currently travel. Parthia is the trade conduit between east and west; and that has had as much of an impact on the availability of textile choices and clothing influences as climate or tradition. That diversity has been of great value to us. We are, by necessity, travelling as lightly as possible; so our pack animals are not encumbered with all of the different types of clothing we have and will require through each stage of our journey. The Masters wish to have us blend in as much as possible to avoid undue attention; and our choices of dress aid in that endeavor.

  That is why we are all currently wearing the jackets, tunics, pleated pants, and mid-calf leather boots common among the horse-riding merchants and traders as well as among most of the wealthier classes within the Empire. Our brethren back at our mountain home are wearing furs by now, and while our mission is hard; I have not missed the early snows and cold! Maybe I am best suited for my tasks because I rejoice in the small blessings that come with doing God’s will.

  Returning to the subject at hand, with Parthia at the heart of the trade routes between the east and west, everything from the prized silks of China to the coarsest wools are available here. The poorest peoples wear plain clothing that is often un-dyed and unadorned with the colors and accents common to the wealthier classes. Their occupations affect the types of clothing they wear; and can range from tunics and pants that are similar to our own current choices to plain dresses, layered skirts, and simple robes. Cottons, flax
-linens, and a wide variety of leathers and furs are widely traded too; and are affordable, in varying degrees, to the merchants, business owners, and landholders of the empire. It is no surprise that the finest, most elaborate clothing is only available to the rulers and very wealthiest few, though to be fair; Parthia is no worse – and better than many – in how the elite treat the general population.

  Slavery is abhorrent to all Magi of the Light, and while even debt-slavery is comparatively rare in Parthia; we are sorely tested to pass by and do nothing for the multitudes of conquered peoples that are forced to dwell in meanest servitude. My heart aches even more for them knowing that, according to the Seers, even the arrival of our Lord Savior will not change the lives of slaves for centuries or even millennia to come – far enough into the future that they cannot, or are not permitted to, see clearly.

  Okay, so I’m not completely immune to proselytizing to the future, though this will just be preaching to the choir for anyone reading this in the future anyway.

  While we’re traveling as inconspicuously as possible right now, that will need to change somewhat once we near Jerusalem. Certain aspects of our mission will require us to dress the part of the wealthy priest caste; and we are already beginning to gather the robes and adornments that we – and particularly the Masters – will need to play those roles. Sometimes all of this seems to be nothing more than a transition of scenes and costume changes for our parts in a cosmic play; though the consequences of our actions are very serious indeed.

  ***

  We are ever-nearer our destination, and if all goes well, we will reach Jerusalem by the start of Hanukkah – now just a few weeks away. As we do each evening, the other Seers and I have looked into the realm of possibilities as we continue to seek out both the path we need to follow as well as forewarning of the dangers ahead. The way is by no means clear to us; and much of what we do see is discomfiting – so much so that one of us is, by necessity, being excluded from our nightly endeavors lest he risk the madness.

  There have been many nights during which I have been sorely troubled by what the Sight reveals to us; and tonight is no exception. It pains all of the Seers to know that the Light of God is come among us even as such darkness seems to cover the world in a shroud of evil. It is directly into the deepest part of this darkness that we must go, and I am not ashamed to admit my fears – not just for our safety; but for the innocents that may soon suffer the cruelty that evil men unleash as they attempt to thwart God’s will. We now understand that our role in these events is going to affect the actions of those evil men; and that foreknowledge is a heavy burden – as is knowing that we will not be permitted to intervene in much of what is to come in the weeks and months ahead.