By Laura Becerra
Youth Ministry Assistant of the Archdiocese of Denver
Who were the Three Wise Men? Their story sparks wonder. Three Wise Men, pagans, astrologers, who study the stars, see a star announcing the birth of a new king and decide to embark on the adventure of following this star to meet the new king, worship him and give him some gifts.
If you are like me, this great story leaves you with more questions than answers: How did they know that the star signified the birth of a king? Why, being pagans, did they go and worship the new King of the Jews? Where do the names Melchior, Gaspar and Balthazar come from, when Matthew never mentions their names in his Gospel? As the saying goes, "You had to be there!" Since we couldn’t be there, let’s reflect on what the few details of this remarkable event reveal and the message it holds for each of us.
Matthew tells us that these magi came from the East and followed a star that guided them to the new King of the Jews. He also tells us that they sought help from King Herod about the whereabouts of this new king. We know that Herod could not answer them, so they continued their journey, not knowing where it would lead them.
Have you ever drastically changed your plans because of a hunch? Something you felt you had to do for some reason?
The Wise Men studied the stars, and I imagine they spent hours deciphering the meaning of the natural events around them. Perhaps they had never seen anything like the Star of Bethlehem and knew, like a hunch, that they had to set out as soon as possible on their search. We can see their open hearts as they recognized that the star signified something more than just a star. This reminds me of the passage in Matthew 12:41, when Jesus, speaking to the Jews about the sign of Jonah and how the people of Nineveh listened and repented of their sins, says: “… and behold, something greater than Jonah is here." Truly, there was something greater — the greatest — the Savior of the world.
This story also speaks to us about faith. They set out on their journey without being certain they would find something of great importance. The star was a powerful sign that they needed to search for it, and they decided to continue even though they were unsure of the outcome. They believed there was something important ahead, even before they had seen it.
Another part of the story is the journey from their homeland, which they knew well, to a foreign land. They surely knew they would face unknown dangers and unexpected difficulties, yet they set out anyway. Why? Why go through so much effort for something uncertain, something that would take them far from their loved ones, from everything they knew, and might even lead them to suffering? I want to add here that, in the English translation of the Bible, the Magi are called “Wise Men.” I imagine these wise men decided to set out on the adventure because they were searching for the Truth. They had a desire to investigate and know the truth. The wise person recognizes that there is an objective truth, and when they find it, it is like the field in the parable that Jesus shares in the Gospel of Matthew. The man finds the hidden treasure, hides it again, goes and sells everything he has and buys that field so that the treasure can be his (Mt 13:44). These wise men understood the great value of encountering the truth, and they did not hesitate to go in search of it. Their desire to discover the truth led them to the great blessing of meeting face-to-face with the Way, the Truth and the Life (Jn 14:6).
What great joy it is to know that God reveals himself to us in many ways and comes to walk with us wherever we are! God revealed himself to the Wise Men were revealed through his creation. Everything that God created reveals him and leads us toward him, toward the Truth, if only we would take the time to contemplate it. And even as pagans, God reached the hearts of the Wise Men in the way he knew they could open up and receive him — through the stars.
How does God come into your life? Perhaps for students, he comes through study and knowledge. If you work in construction, he visits you through your skills in creating something new or improving something that is in need. If you are a chef in a restaurant or at home, he smiles when he sees you collaborate with him to satisfy human hunger. If you enjoy reading, he enters that story and shows you the great adventure that is life. Let us not overlook the moments or details through which God is already present in our lives, and like the Wise Men, let us not forget to look up at the sky and contemplate him from time to time.
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