NATIVE CAROLS – తూర్పు దిక్కు చుక్క బుట్టె – A STAR IS BORN IN THE EAST

Another favourite Telugu Christmas carol of many is, “తూర్పు దిక్కు చుక్క బుట్టె” – A STAR IS BORN IN THE EAST. For the paucity of time, we will look at only the refrain, and see what we can learn.
– “తూర్పు దిక్కు చుక్క బుట్టె మేరమ్మా – ఓ మరియమ్మా – చుక్కను జూచి మేము వచ్చినాము మొక్కి పోవుటకు.” 
A simple translation – “A star is born in the east, O mother Maria; we have come to worship [the King] because of the star.”

The words that are used by the author are, very rustic and simple, and not very polished or refined poetry. Yet, they convey the meaning of the birth of Jesus Christ so powerfully. The tune also adds to the power and the charm of this beautiful Telugu Christmas carol.

Star is one of the “props” that the LORD God Almighty used, during the birth of His Son, and our Saviour, the LORD Jesus Christ. God placed the star, to help guide us to the Saviour. 
– “​1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East…” – Matthew 2:1-2

God placed the star to guide us to the Saviour. God still uses many people and incidents, just like the star, to help guide us to the Saviour. The question for us is, what should we do with such guiding stars? What we do, when we see the star, will determine, how things shape up in our lives. The star is to help us guide to the Saviour. When we see the Saviour, what we do is a reflection of who we are. 
– “9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.” – Matthew 2:9-10

Wisemen came following the star, and when they saw the Saviour, they fell down on the knees, with their faces to the ground, and worshipped the LORD.
– “2…”Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him…11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” – Matthew 2:2;11

When we see the Saviour, if our hearts do not compel us to worship Him, it is a reflection of what is in our hearts, and it is of no value at all. Herod, the High Priests, and their religious Ilk, were not keen to worship the King of kings, their intentions and motives are different. They had  nothing but darkness in their lives, and their actions is a confirmation of their intent.
– “3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:” “7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.” – Matthew 2:3-5;7-8

Worship is not merely following some religious and ritualistic traditions. *Worship is another word for obedience. If worship does not lead us to faithful and full obedience, then it is no worship at all,* just like Herod, the Chief Priests, the religious heads, and others, which led to the massacre of innocent small babies.
– “16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.” – Matthew 2:16

May the LORD God help us to come to the Saviour, and truly worship Him in our thoughts, words and deeds. This is true worship, and God is much pleased with such worship. *May the LORD help us to be true worshippers of the Saviour.* Even so the LORD help us.