The example of the Magi

Here is the reflection that I shared with those who came to pray with us this weekend: some thoughts about how the example of the wise men from the East who came to worship the child Jesus can help us to seek him, to worship him and to discover the gift of his joy.

Your light has come

In recent weeks, I have been waking in the early morning darkness, and it seems that even after the sun has risen it is obscured by cloud cover.  One minute there is darkness and the next there is light, but we have had very few days of late when the sun shines in all its brightness.  This is also the time of year when many of us might long for sunlight.  It’s amazing how much of an effect the lack of direct sunlight can have on us: when there is cloud cover for prolonged periods of time, people’s moods become dark and dreary, but as soon as the sun appears in the sky and bathes us in its light, our moods brighten.

The prophet Isaiah uses the imagery of light and darkness to foretell the coming of the Lord.  In today’s first reading, he says: Rise up in splendor … your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you (Is 60:1).  With these words, Isaiah predicted the coming of Christ, the Son of God who came to teach us about the light of faith.  This gift was given to all people, and the first of the signs that spoke of this reality was the prediction that dromedaries from all of Sheba would come … bearing gifts … and proclaiming the praises of the Lord (Is 60:6).

A few days ago, I spoke about the shepherds, mysterious visitors who came in search of the child Jesus, but these were not the only strangers to make appearances at the time of his birth.  Mary and Joseph already knew that the child they treasured was holy, the Son of the Most High, but still they might have been surprised at the arrival of magi: Zoroastrian priests from ancient Media and Persia, believed to possess supernatural powers and to be able to read the stars.  The story that is recounted in Matthew’s gospel does indeed help us to see that all people are coheirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise spoken by Christ Jesus in the gospel (Eph 3:6).

When the magi arrived in Jerusalem asking: Where is the newborn king of the Jews (cf Mt 2:1-2), their question awakened excitement but also most likely raised suspicion among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.  Even King Herod, the Roman King of Judea, heard tell of their arrival, and he was worried, perhaps because he felt that his authority was being threatened.  This is usually the case when we fall into the trap of believing that somehow we are entitled to some level of privilege, even to perceived privilege.  In truth, God’s merciful love was offered then and is still offered now for the sake of everyone, with no exceptions.

The seers from the East also knew of the ancient prophecy, that predicted the birth of the Christ child in Bethlehem of Judea (cf Mt 2:5-6), and having seen his star when it rose, they had come to worship him (cf Mt 2:2).  This Jubilee Year of Mercy is the perfect opportunity for us to seek out the Lord, to discover the gift of his mercy, his compassion, his constant desire to forgive us and to welcome us.  For some of us, the thought of coming close or returning to the Lord might still be daunting, because we are human beings, tempted to respond to God’s invitation with fear, like Herod did: fear of judgment, fear of not being welcomed or fear that something we have done will not be forgiven.

If this is the case, let us ask the magi to help us to let go of our fears, to seek out the gift of holy wisdom, to follow the star that leads us to the Lord: to his welcoming and forgiving embrace, so that we too can be filled with the splendour of his light, enter his house, find the child with his mother Mary, and bow down in worship (Mt 2:11).  All who have done this have been rewarded with the gift of God’s joy, and this gift is also awaiting us.  Holy joy will then lead us to offer our own talents and abilities as gifts to the Lord who loves us and will always guide us in the ways of his truth (cf Mt 2:12).