“We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” The explanation that the magi gave for their journey seems so simple and straightforward. But, like so much of our Salvation History, there is more to the story. These wise men came from afar bringing gifts to an infant. In return, they receive a gift much greater than the distance and effort they spent. After depositing their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, they, in turn, receive a gift: they are redirected.
That is what we all get after kneeling before Jesus: we are redirected. That different direction after kneeling before Jesus means that our joy in life will not be in seeking happiness and fulfillment on our terms but on the terms God has in store for us. The new direction involves finding the holy in the least expected places, just as the magi found it in that little manger.
Who were they – these travelers from the mysterious East, who sometime after the birth of the baby arrive in Bethlehem with expensive gifts? They appear for a moment and are quickly gone. The text calls them magi. They are known variously as wise men, astrologers, philosophers, mystics or scientists whose interests stretched far beyond Israel. Tradition has even assigned them names: Balthazar and Caspar and Melchior. As we hear in both today’s first reading and the gospel, they brought three exotic gifts, leading us to conclude there were three wise men – but, who knows?
And who they were, where they came from or what they were about remain buried in the mists of history and legend. Like all of us at our best, they were on a quest, hungry for light in a dark world, eager to find that which was greater than themselves. Their story is more than a pleasant tale. If you listen carefully, you will hear that it involves politics, duplicity and even murder. The outcome of the story depended on what they trusted and whom they didn’t. Had they trusted Herod, history might have been very different. But they trusted a voice which came to them in a dream.
They were learned men. Somewhere they had read that the Jews had been promised a Savior. Rumor had it his birth was imminent, and so they made the long desert trip to find him, arriving at Jerusalem.
Herod had also gotten wind of their coming, and he was not happy with the news. Unlike John the Baptist, who readily admitted that he must decrease so that the Messiah could increase, Herod wasn’t ready to give up his throne. Ancient texts declared that the new king would sit on David’s throne in David’s city. Bethlehem – David’s city – was just a few miles south of Jerusalem and Herod was prepared to dispatch whatever force necessary when the facts were clearer.
“Go and find this new king,” he had privately said to the wise men. “And when you locate him let me know so that I too may come and worship him.” Cunning old Herod. “Tell me where the hen house is,” said the fox.
The wise men left, still intent on their mission, but disquieted about their visit with Herod, and his instructions. The magi arrive in Bethlehem and inquire as to the recent exceptional birth. Perhaps they encounter some shepherds with a strange and wonderful story. Subsequently, they visit the child. The visitors offer their gifts: gold in recognition of the child’s royalty, frankincense to offer to a god and myrrh in anticipation of his death. Having completed their mission they are ready to head home. “When you find him bring me word that I too may worship him.” The oily voice of Herod sticks in their minds. Notice, they do not return to Jerusalem. A dream, warning them not to return to Herod, confirms their dis-ease. They take a back road out of town, listening to the redirection they had received.
Their dream was right. Herod was not to be trusted. He had tried to enlist them in his cause, but they had resisted. The wise men follow their dream and return home. Herod does not get their support, and is furious. Joseph, told of Herod’s anger by an angel, packs up his little family and makes tracks to Egypt.
This child Herod sought to kill – this pretender to the Judean throne – Herod has good cause to fear him, to want him out of the way. You see, he will bring a new way of doing things to a world enamored with, mired down in, the old ways. He will declare, “turn the other cheek,” “go the second mile,” “give good when you get evil.” “Forgive seventy times seven times.” All the Herods of history will not understand him or what he teaches. Wherever he is followed he will befuddle the earthly powers and principalities.
His message comes to us in the quiet inner voices which speak of peace and love. And our world, so steeped in violence, so ready to prove we are right because we can hit harder than anyone else, cannot hear or understand what he is about or has to say. He summons us to a way of living the world does not understand and will not accept. And we must decide whom we shall hear and whom we shall follow. Shall we trust the voices of the world’s Herods? Or shall we listen to another voice which tells us that for some things – the most important questions of life and death – Herod cannot be trusted? Let us be the wise men and women who will hear that other voice which calls us to the back roads of life, roads which lead to peace on earth and good will among the world’s people.
Let the love and mercy of God shine in us and redirect us and, like the star of Bethlehem, draw others to Jesus.