Merry Christmas, Day 12! Today (and tomorrow) we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany. As we do every year, we get Matthew’s gospel account of the Magi coming to visit the Holy Family in Bethlehem. These Magi are interesting characters. We really don’t know how many of them there actually were, but pious tradition has settled on three, given that they brought three types of gifts. I’ve spoken before about how the gifts represent that Jesus was a king (gold), a priest (frankincense), and how both of these would be manifested in his passion, death and resurrection (myrrh). Let’s chat a little about the Magi themselves and what they represent.
First, they are not kings. That notion developed over time in art and popular piety over the centuries for a variety of reasons. But strictly they are magi. Magi were interesting folks. They were scholars and astrologers who looked to the heavens to discern what was going on in the world. Interestingly enough, about the time of Christ’s birth, the planet Jupiter, which represented kings, moved into Aries, the constellation that represented Israel at that time. This would make sense to magi, but would probably have gone unnoticed by others.
Also very notable is the fact that they are all Gentiles. Matthew saw them as the first fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah in today’s first reading, as well as echoing today’s Responsorial in Psalm 72, “Lord every nation on earth will adore you.” In time, the characteristics of the magi in artistic expression, such as their skin color and their style of dress, have them representing the three known continents of Europe, Asia and Africa. This was a way to help people understand, as Paul says very clearly in today’s second reading from Ephesians, “that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” The good news is truly universal in scope.
Finally, the magi also help show us that the nature of the Kingdom which Christ ushers in is very different than any earthly Kingdom. Sadly, Herod, being the despot that he is misses this point entirely. Like so many rooted in the world, he sees Jesus as a threat, not as a Savior.
The world has changed quite a bit since a long time ago in a Galilee far, far away. Sadly, human nature has not. Thus, those of us who understand who Jesus really is have the special task of making him known to the world of today. Wise men still seek him. May we all have the grace to be heralds of the good news.