When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Juda, in the days of king Herod, behold there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem, saying “Where is he that is born King of the Jews?”
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
My very Dear Sons,
As it moved toward the fullness of time human history was driven by three major currents: that of the Romans in terms of the greatest political empire ever to be realized (we see this in the Gospel, as Joseph and Mary must travel to Bethlehem to participate in the census mandated by the Romans); that of the Greeks in regard to the highest intellectual achievements in literature, philosophy, and the arts; and, finally, that of the prophetic tradition of the Jews, to whom was entrusted the revelation of the one true God, who, after many centuries and millennia of human expectation on earth, came into the world at Christmas in the person of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, the son of God and true son of Mary, who was and is true God and true man.
In reading the Gospel passage for the feast of the Epiphany, one might wonder to which cultural origin belonged those most mysterious figures, the Magi, the Wise Men, coming from the East to worship the king of the Jews.
Although the broader biblical allusions that our Christian liturgy has drawn from in various texts of the Old Testament, might suggest that these men came from very diverse places including Arabia, the Gospel simply mentions “the East,” which would be, for those in the Holy Land, the vast regions of Persia (modern day Iran) or, perhaps, the region of Mesopotamia, where the two great rivers meet (Iraq). Men in those parts of the world did not belong to any of the three great historical forces mentioned above, but were predominately Zoroastrians, claiming Zoroaster as their founder.
It is curious to note that the name “Zoroaster” (or “Zarathustra” as it is sometimes written contains) both the idea of “star” and also that of “camel.” It is to this tradition of the Zoroastrians that the origins of magic and astrology are often attached. The word “Magi” is connected to the word “magic.”
Another connection here is with the famous prophet Balaam son of Beor mentioned in the Book of Numbers, who lived near the Euphrates, to the east of the Holy Land, and who was called by the enemies of Israel to come curse the Israelites, but who was forced by God to bless them instead.
I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not near, A star shall rise out of Jacob and a scepter shall spring up from Israel: and shall strike the chiefs of Moab, and shall waste all the children of Seth. (Num. 24:17, Douay)
Perhaps the Magi were heirs to a prophetic tradition somehow linked to that famous prophecy of their kinsman, Balaam. Nothing proves such a statement, but it is an interesting idea. In this manner, the Wise Men would have had a distant but real connection to the prophetic tradition of Israel.
In any case, whatever their culture may have been, the Magi of the Gospel were drawn to the Christ Child by something infinitely more powerful than any consideration based on astrology, astronomy, or magic. The star they followed may have had appeared with a particular conjunction of planets, planned by God in the history of the heavens, but, as this particular “star” they were following changed directions in the middle of their trip, it does not seem possible that it was a purely natural phenomenon. As with Balaam, these learned men were compelled by God to give witness to the truth–and a divine truth at that—they were compelled by an inner spiritual instinct which they freely obeyed. It was grace more than knowledge of the stars that brought them to Jerusalem and then to Bethlehem.
In our day it is no longer the Zoroastrians who hold sway in those countries east of the Holy Land, the country of the Magi, but rather the disciples of Mohammed. For more than a thousand years this restless people has, off and on, in various ways, brought fire and the sword to peoples all around them, extending the destruction far into Europe itself. It is a long story that need not be retold here. But, as we know all too well, a radical form of Islam, not so different from that of former times, threatens again much of the world. In truth, we are looking at the massacre of whole populations of Christians, of genocide in all its horror. Children are literally crucified or beheaded, and unspeakable cruelty is dealt out without the slightest sense of humanity. Hundreds of thousands of human beings have fled this apocalyptic plague in recent months. Perhaps a new army of Christians will have to take up the old fight with material weapons (in fact this is already happening), while the rest of us storm Heaven by our prayers for the end of this horrendous violence and for the conversion of a foolish people that has not yet known Christ. No doubt it is because of the sins and cultural decline of the Christians of Europe and America that God has allowed this resurgence of violent Islam. Would that this people from the “east” would learn again to recognize the Infant King that drew to Himself their ancestors.
For ourselves, let us be humble like the Magi and seek out the Child who is the newborn King of the Jews. There is something utterly unique about this Child and His Most Holy Name. He holds the solution for all of our problems, and problems we have in America in the year 2016! “For there is no other name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12). Thy light is come, O Jerusalem, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee; and the Gentiles shall walk in thy light (2nd Antiphon of Lauds). Amen. Alleluia.
