The star the Magi had seen in the sky went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.
On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
Matthew chapter 2 verses 9 to 12
In today's world we often see people are treated as if they were some kind of commodity in a transaction. Some international leaders have even treated whole countries as if they are simply a collection of raw materials in which they can trade or make deals, with no respect for the real people who comprise those countries.
The learned men of the Christmas story, however, after their trek from far away lands which leads them to Bethlehem, find the baby Jesus with his mother. They immediately bow down to worship, and present their gifts fit for a king. It is not merely a transaction, but the natural response for people who want to honour a special person.
The special person they honour - Jesus - will grow to be the one who by his life declares and affirms the dignity of all people everywhere. The one who sees each and every person not merely as some transaction, but as someone to give his own life for.
Father God - thank you for the birth of Jesus 2,000 years ago
Lord Jesus, Son of God - help me see who you are, and understand all that you came for
Spirit of God - lead me to trust you in all that lies ahead