Dream Resolution
Dear Savannah and Sutton,
You know of my tremendous respect for dreams. I believe they are an amazing resource on the inner journey toward self-awareness, insight and spiritual renewal. Thank you for being a listening ear to my many ruminations on my dreams and yours. As you have heard me say, everyone dreams every night. And every night dreams do their essential work of emotional regulation whether we pay attention to them or not. But when we pay attention, we can be rewarded with insight, creativity, resilience and growth. My New Year’s resolution is to take 5 minutes each morning before I get out of bed to reflect on my dreams. I invite you to hold me accountable!
-Dad
Inside Out Lectionary Letters
Readings for January 4 (or January 6), 2026
Isaiah 60:1-6 / Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 / Ephesians 3:1-12 / Matthew 2:1-12
Summary of Matthew 2:1-12 - The Visit of the Magi
Magi (wise men) from the east, see a star that they believe is a signal or sign regarding the birth of the king of the Jews. They travel to Jerusalem to inquire of King Herod about the location of this birth. King Herod is disturbed by this news, as is all Jerusalem. He gathers the chief priests and scribes, who tell him that the Messiah is to be born in Bethlehem, citing Micah 5:2 as prophecy. The star leads the Magi to the exact location, where they find Mary and the child. They present gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Warned in a dream not to return to Herod, the Magi go back to their country by another route.
Scripture as a Mirror of the Soul
The Magi were likely gentile scholars from an area near Persia or Babylon. Some believe that the inclusion of this story indicates that from birth Jesus’ work was intended to include the gentile world. And the inclusion of the Micah reference (5:2) reveals the perspective that Matthew has of connecting the circumstances of Jesus’ life to the messianic prophecies of the ancient Jewish writings.
If we are to live out the Good News, then the gospel story must be told from the inside out. If the outward is a reflection or projection of the inward, then what does this story reveal about the pilgrimage within us?
The scope of who we are is far greater than we yet understand. There are parts within that are as far removed from our consciousness as Persia was from Bethlehem. Yet those parts often have a better grasp of the realities of the Kingdom of God than the authorities that rule the conscious life.
There is a wisdom within me, and you, that is both reasonable (scholarly) and intuitive (mystical). But I am usually skeptical of one or the other. There is an inner Magi that knows how to hold the two in balance, and take action with belief and grace.
My consciousness is plagued with King-Herod-like paranoia and protectionist power struggles that screen out the good and the grace-filled moments that serendipitously come across my path.
I have a Herod inside of me, whose voice needs to be heard, but needs to NOT be the king. Because, with the Herod voice at the center of my life, when Herod is troubled, all Jerusalem within me is troubled as well. I can quickly become manipulative, conniving and even violent.
The inner Magi can lead us to seeing fingerprints of the divine in the most unexpected places; the stars, the fearful King, the humble town, and even in dreams. This posture of openness and anticipation seems to often be accompanied by a sense of gratitude for the outward experiences that affirm the inward journey, and a posture of generosity toward others.
Finally, what about the dream? Maybe we don’t give it a second thought. However, if we look past this singular passage, we should note that the Christ child, and those around him, are protected by four different dreams.
Matthew 1:20 The Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him to take Mary as his wife.
Matthew 2:12 The Magi were warned in a dream not to return to Herod.
Matthew 2:13 Joseph was told in a dream to take his family to Egypt.
Matthew 2: 19-20 An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him to return to Israel.
Dreams are referenced throughout scripture, yet most of the modern church has very little to say about them. Nevertheless, they provide a wonderful pathway to the inner life, and a way by which to interact with the unconscious parts that can offer Magi-wisdom for our journey of faith.