Dear Readers
Today we celebrate Epiphany, the Feast of the Three Wise Men, also called the Magi. They were stargazers, or astronomists of their time, and they took meticulous notice of the movements of the stars and the planets. Their attention was drawn to a very unusual and bright star that appeared. They decided to follow the movement of this star from their home in the East to where the star would lead them.
Some scholars believe that they came from Persia (Iran), others from Mesopotamia (Iraq), and others believe that they were situated even further to the east. The capital of Iran, Tehran, is one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two kilometres from Bethlehem and the capital of Iraq, Baghdad, is eight hundred and eighty kilometres from Bethlehem. We can therefore deduce that a caravan of camels with the Three Kings, or Wisemen, travelled for at least three months to come to Bethlehem.
The general understanding in the Ancient Near East regarding special signs in the sky, two thousand years ago, was that they served as indications of special happenings on earth. It was associated with the birth of kings and deities but also served as warnings and were interpreted as omens. The night sky was also used as a navigator to travellers. The Magi followed the movement of this incredible star and was guided to where it came to rest, in Bethlehem.
God used his awesome creation, the night sky to tell of his salvation to people who were far away. They were inspired and followed the star because they wanted to understand its message. In the watchword for today we read in the Second Epistle of John, Chapter Two verse Eight, “The darkness is passing away, and real light is already shining.” The Magi were excited about the light of the star, but when they came to Bethlehem, they met the Light of the World, the True Morning Star. They believed that Jesus was the Saviour of the World and their hearts were filled with joy.
However, their witness of the star and the meaning of this light, was not well received by the King in Jerusalem, Herod. The Magi were filled with concern when they realized that the local king, did not approve of the King of the kings birth and was filled with rage. The Psalm verse of today, Psalm Eighty-Nine verse Nine states: “You rule the raging sea; when its waves rise, you still them.” God is the ruler of the elements of the world and they obey him. This same power was given to Jesus. We read in the Gospel of Matthew, in Chapter eight verse twenty-six: Jesus said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a dead calm. The elements and forces of the universe are commanded by God. The Magi had this epiphany, this revelation of God’s favour and grace. They were coming from afar, from lands where God was not worshipped. They were guided by the Star to meet God’s Son in the Manger. They believed and became part of his first gentile witnesses.
Father, open our eyes so that your Son will be revealed to us, for we believe like the Magi that Jesus is our Lord, worthy of all our precious gifts and all our adoration. Amen.