A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mt 2:1-12
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews?We saw his star at its risingand have come to do him homage.”When King Herod heard this,he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet:And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;since from you shall come a ruler,who is to shepherd my people Israel.”Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child.When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.”After their audience with the king they set out.And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the housethey saw the child with Mary his mother.They prostrated themselves and did him homage.Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.
REFLECTION
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
God made His salvation known to the whole world.
The Magi came from the East. In Jesus' time that would be Media, Persia, Assyria and Babylonia. The word Magi comes from the Greek magos meaning "one of a learned and priestly class". There are at least 85 paintings of the coming of the Magi in the Roman catacombs. Gentiles were the first to identify Jesus as the Messiah.
We are one family. Our world was headed to destruction and Our Father sent His Son to save us; all nations, all people-- Those we like and not like, those who hate us, hate God, and don't believe. Jesus, the Christ was to save all. This is the most profound act of love anyone of us will ever see. Knowing that some will spit, hit, humiliate and kill His Son, Our Father did this. He kept His promise to Abraham.
In the persons of the Magi all people adore the Creator of the universe. May the three gifts remind us of the three aspects of the future life of Jesus. Gold represents kingship, frankincense reminds us of the deity of the new born King and myrrh or embalming oil bears with us the death of Jesus for our salvation and sanctification.
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