Adoration of the Magi

Damaskinos, 16th cent. Cretan school - Museum of Iraklion

Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 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."

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. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 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.

Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

- Matthew 2:7-12

In Saturday's reading and commentary, we began this passage about the star, the Wise Men from the East, and King Herod. King Herod is troubled at the news of the king who is to be born, which he has learned from the Wise Men - and, we are told, all of Jerusalem was troubled with him. But we know of others, such as Simeon and Anna, who are among a community in Jerusalem that has been awaiting the Consolation of Israel - the news of Israel's Deliverer, or Messiah. And they rejoice at the Good News, as did the shepherds living out in the fields near Bethlehem.

So, the stage has been set for a great conflict of powers. In Saturday's reading, we read of Herod's fear, and his gathering to himself of all of his advisers and the specialists from the temple: the chief priests and scribes, along with the high priest, in order to find information about this promised King. In today's reading, we learn that Herod has also secretly called to himself the Wise Men from the East, in order to find out more information from them about the King who will be born. Herod has learned from the prophesy of Micah, reported to him by the scribes, that the child is to be born in Bethlehem. But he does not know when this will happen. So, this is what he asks of the wise men, or the Magi: "what time" the star appeared. Herod sends the Magi to Bethlehem, with a crafty message: "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."

When the wise men see the star standing over the place where the child is born, they rejoice, we are told, with exceedingly great joy. This good news presents itself to so many in our story as we have noted above. This is in contrast with Herod, his court, and "all of Jerusalem with him" who are disturbed by the news.

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 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. My study bible notes that, here, Matthew, writing for Jewish Christians, cites Gentiles (the wise men or Magi) as the first worshipers of Jesus. Luke, writing for Gentile Christians, cites as the first worshipers the Jewish poor - shepherds living out in the fields of Bethlehem (see The Good News from Tuesday last.) The Magi, who may be called the "firstfruits of the Gentiles," come to Christ bearing gifts. My study bible notes the details of information regarding these gifts as follows. "Gold, for a King; frankincense, for God, and myrrh, for a Man who is to suffer and die." Gold is the property of and proper tribute for kings, frankincense is used as the "sending of prayer" to God (see Psalm 141:2), and myrrh will be offered to Jesus on the Cross and brought to the tomb by Nicodemus and by the women who will give us the first news of Resurrection.

Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. As in so much of the Scripture regarding the events surrounding the birth of Jesus, the Holy Spirit is once again at work through dreams. This time the Magi are warned through a dream that they should not return to Herod as has been requested of them. So they went back to their own country another way. And, as we shall see, the stage is set for this great conflict of power, spiritual and worldly. Spiritual power works by virtue of the Spirit, coming to those who can receive it. We have read in Christmastide readings of annunciation via angelic messenger to Mary, Elizabeth and Zechariah, a whole host of angels appeared with the Good News to the shepherds living out in the fields, the Holy Spirit graces Anna and Simeon with the gift of prophecy, and sends messages through dreams to Joseph and to the Wise Men of the East. We recall the words of Jesus comparing the Spirit to the wind: "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but you cannot tell where it comes from and where it is going" (John 3:8). So it is with the work of the Spirit (πνευμα, "pneuma" which means both wind and Spirit). The power of the Spirit works as the wind: we see what it does and where it has been, but not where it comes from nor where it is going. We must contrast this, in these passages, with the earthly power of King Herod, a man searching for his rival, desperate to find information. We must also see that those with the power of the great religious institution are without this "wind of Spirit" - without this spiritual power - except via the ancient prophecy of Micah, which has been written in their books.

As we go on to read tomorrow's passage, we'd do well to keep this in mind: this difference between the Spiritual and the worldly powers. One has produced great joy at the news of the Child, while the worldly powers are disturbed and troubled. The Spirit works in mysterious ways, and yet where it has been has created change which is evident to all, and to those who may receive. I hope that this breath or wind of Spirit is able to breathe in you, that your prayers are met with grace and its receipt. All it takes is the tiniest of chinks in our armor, the crack in the opening of the door. The joy of the good news is shared with all in these passages of scripture, both Jew and Gentile, regardless of where they're from and where they go.