The Magi

Please forgive me for not writing a blog for the last two weeks.  I took a little vacation for Christmas and New Year’s.

Today is the Feast of the Epiphany also known as the day when the Magi bring gifts to Jesus.  Who are the magi (or kings or wise men or astrologers)?  How many were there?  Why are they important?   I just want to offer some reflections about the Epiphany.

“Now, after the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the East came to Jerusalem asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews?  For we have seen his star at its rising and have come to pay him homage.”

Herodotus, the famous historian, had said that in the 6^th century before Jesus there was a caste of priests in Mede who had the ability to interpret dreams.  They were priests of the Persian religion, Zoroastrianism.  In the following centuries, anyone who could interpret dreams was known as a Magi.  The term was used very loosely.  Most scholars see the Magi as astrologers who had the ability to read the stars in the heavens as signs from God.

Some refer to these magi as “Kings.”   Were they eastern kings?  In Psalm 72, the text reads, “May the kings of Sheba and Saba bring gifts; may all kings pay him homage.”  Over the first five centuries of Christianity, many people considered the magi to have some type of earthly power based on the psalm above.  This is a case of popular culture, ascribing to the magi more than their due.  But it does bring up an interesting point for reflection.  Here are kings with much power and influence and wealth, yet they come to the King of kings, Jesus, to offer homage.  They are the opposite of Herod who will never bow to a new king. 

Also the magi/kings are numbered in popular tradition.  We say that there are only three of them.  We say that because they offer three gifts.  Three gifts, three magi.  Yes, but there could have been more.  The gospel, however, does not tell us how many magi came.  There could be 10, 1000, or a million, right?  How many came to adore Jesus?  We really do not know.

Do they have names?  The Bible does not offer names for the magi.  Our popular tradition tells us that they were named Caspar, Melchior and Baltasar.  In the calendar of saints, listed at the Cathedral of Cologne in Germany, there is an obituary for the kings.  It says, “having undergone many trials and fatigues for the Gospel, the three wise men met at Sewa (Armenia) in A.D. 54 to celebrate the feast of Christmas.  Thereupon, after celebration of Mass, they died.”  You can judge for yourself if that is true or not.

The presence of the magi in Matthew’s Gospel is very interesting.  Matthew is writing to a Jewish community but tells them that the first people to recognize Jesus are people from the East – unclean, non-Jewish people.  That is a challenge to Matthew’s people.  These Magi, schooled to read the stars, see Jesus for who he truly was.  Yet, the Jewish people waiting for the Messiah could not see him. 

The magi put their lives on hold and travel a long time to find Jesus, enduring many hardships.   They sacrifice much for their faith.  Would we be willing to do the same?

 I invite your comments.