The Visit of the Wise Men - Matthew 2:1-12

KAALAGAD Gospel Reflection – January 5, 2020

Epiphany of the Lord
Matthew 2:1-12

2 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

 6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.’”

7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” 9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

 The Visit of the Wise Men

 The Feast of Epiphany or the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi (Matthew 2:1–12) is traditionally celebrated the first Sunday of the New Year.  Also known as The Three Kings, it is a festival commemorating that day.

It tells of a time when three wise men, coming from the East, looking for a child that is said to be born king as was prophesied. They were astrologers and arthromeres and had travelled from afar, guided only by the star that appeared miraculously in the sky.

These three wise men represented the learned men or men of great learning who are greatly esteemed.  They were probably even rich given their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  This shows that Christ appealed not only to the shepherds during that time but to learned and rich men as well. It was a tribute to the universality of Jesus. Jesus was a God for all including Gentiles and foreigners and much more including the whole universe.

They were guided  by a star and it stopped at the house where upon they saw a child with his mother Mary.  John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, viewed the star as purely miraculous: "How then, tell me, did the star point out a spot so confined, just the space of a manger and shed, unless it left that height and came down, and stood over the very head of the young child?

Indeed it was as if the whole of cosmos wanted it so. Thus the whole of humanity; all sheep and farm-animals and even the evergreen trees welcome the birth of their king!

Springs of water, bless the Lord. Seas and rivers, bless the Lord. Sea beasts and everything that lives in water, bless the Lord. Birds of heaven, bless the Lord. Animals wild and tame, all bless the Lord. Children of the earth, bless the Lord. Israel, bless the Lord, give him glory and praise for ever. (Daniel 3: 77-83)

The birth of Christ is indeed a reason to celebrate, but we should not forget.  There is a dark side to this event.  I would like to note the last line of the reading:  “And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.”  And so the three wise men left without informing Herod any news of the new king.  Herod,  thirsty for power, and afraid that he can be dethroned,  thus ordered  the slaughter of all young boys 2 years and below. The innocent children have been sacrificed so that Jesus may live.

And this year, as we celebrate Christmas joyfully, a dark side haunts us all too. The order by the President to kill drug users does not stop even on Christmas Eve.  So another alleged drug user in Navotas was executed in front of his family.  Young and old are not spared.  Their death, though, was drowned by the celebration.  They become simply statistics that are easily forgotten. Maybe in the future as we celebrate the birth of Jesus we can also remember the innocent boys slaughtered by Herod, and offer a prayer for them, just like the fallen victims of EJKs.


Vio Esguerra

Kaalagad Member