The Visit of the Magi

Today's Reflections

The Visit of the Magi 

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Mt 2:1-12

¹When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,

in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, ²saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” ³When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. ⁵They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet:/ ⁶‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,/ are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;/ since from you shall come a ruler,/ who is to shepherd my people Israel.’ ”/

⁷Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance. ⁸He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.” ⁹After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰They were overjoyed at seeing the star, ¹¹and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹²And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.

Reflection:

Where is the newborn king of the Jews? Epiphany means “manifestation.” Matthew tells us the story of the visit of the magi, who are wise men and not kings. Why are they wise? Because they know what to look for. Their question: “Where is the newborn king of the Jews?” They are looking not for entertainment or wealth but for the Lord. Part of wisdom is to ask the right questions, to look for the most important things, and the magi show that they are looking for what matters most—the Lord Jesus, “the newborn king of the Jews.”

To those who search for him, Jesus reveals himself. He does not reveal himself to Herod or to the chief priests and scribes of the people. Herod will want to see him only to get rid of him. The religious leaders only study about him but do not care to look for him. But the magi look for him and come from afar to find him. And to them Jesus reveals himself.

How much are you willing to give up so that you may find Christ? The magi leave the comfort of their distant homes and suffer the privations and inconveniences of a long journey. They suffer the darkness of losing their guiding star. But they keep on looking for Christ. And when they find him, they give him their gifts.

When you find the Christ, what do you give him? Things and actions only or your self as well? Jesus is happy to receive material gifts and good deeds. But they matter to him only if they are symbols of your gift of self to him.

And how does Jesus reveal himself to the magi? As a child, as a little one. Today Jesus still reveals himself through children and the little ones, the nobodies of this world, for whatever we do to the least of his brothers and sisters, we do to him (cf Mt 25:40).

Do we search for Christ?

One bishop told of a theologian who, when dying,

made this lament: “All my life long I did research

on Christ, but I did not search for him.”