A Reflection of the Three Wise Men from the Orient and the Epiphany of our Lord By Venerable Mary of Agreda The three Magi Kings, who came to find the divine infant after his birth, were natives of Persia, Arabia and Sabba (Ps. 71:10), countries to the east of Palestine. Their coming was prophesied especially by David, and before him, by Balaam, who, having been hired by Balaac, king of the Moabites, to curse the Israelites, blessed them instead (24:17). In this blessing Balaam said, that he would see the King Christ, although not at once, and that he would behold Him, although not be present; for he did not see Him with his own eyes, but through the Magi, his descendants many centuries after. He said, also, that a star would arise unto Jacob, which was Christ, who arose to reign forever in the house of Jacob (Luke 1:32). These three Kings were well versed in the natural sciences, and well read in the Scriptures of the People of God; and on account of their learning they were called Magi. By their knowledge of Scripture, and by conferring with some of the Jews, they were imbued with a belief in the coming of the Messias expected by that people. They were, moreover, upright men, truthful and very just in the government of their countries. Since their dominions were not so extended as those of our times, they governed them easily, and personally administered justice as wise and prudent sovereigns. This is the true office of the kings, and therefore the Holy Ghost says, that He holds their hearts in his hands in order to direct them like irrigated waters to the fulfillment of his holy will (Proverbs 21:1). They were also of noble and magnanimous disposition, free from avarice and covetousness, which so oppresses, degrades and belittles the spirit of princes. Because these Magi governed adjoining countries and lived not far from each other the virtues and the knowledge which they had acquired, consulting each other in the more important events of their reigns. In all things they communicated with each other as most faithful friends. After receiving heavenly revelations in their sleep, the three Kings awoke at the same hour of the night, and prostrating themselves on the ground and humiliating themselves to the dust, they adored in spirit the immutable being of God. They exalted his infinite mercy and goodness for having sent the divine Word to assume flesh of a Virgin (Isaiah 7:14) in order to redeem the world and give eternal salvation to men. Then all three of them, governed by an impulse of the same Spirit, resolved to depart without delay for Judea in search of the divine Child in order to adore Him. The three Kings (known as Casper, Balthasaar, and Melchior) prepared gifts of gold, incense and myrrh in equal quantities, being guided by the same mysterious impulse; and without having conferred with each other concerning their undertaking, the three of them arrived at the same resolve and the same plan of executing it. . . . At the same time the holy angel, who had brought the news from Bethlehem to the kings, formed of the material air a most resplendent star. The Magi pursued their journey under the guidance of the star without losing sight of it until they arrived at Jerusalem. They entered into the city and openly inquired after Him saying (Matthew 2:8): Where is the king of the Jews, who is born? For we have seen his star in the East, announcing to us his Birth and we have come to see Him and adore Him. Their inquiry came to the ears of Herod, who at that time unjustly reigned in Judea and lived in Jerusalem. The wicked king, panic-stricken at the thought that a more legitimate claimant to the throne should have been born, felt much disturbed and outraged by this report. With him the whole city was aroused, some of the people, out of flattery to the king, others on the account of fear of disturbance. Immediately, as Saint Matthew relates, Herod called together a meeting of the principal priests and scribes in order to ask them where Christ was to be born according to the prophecies and holy Scriptures. They answered that, according to the words of one of the Prophets, Micheas (Mich. 5:2), He was to be born in Bethlehem; since it was written by him that thence the Ruler of Israel was to arise. Thus informed of the birthplace of the New King of Israel, and insidiously plotting from that very moment to destroy Him, Herod dismissed the priests. Then he secretly called the Magi in order to learn of them at what time they had seen the star as harbinger of His birth (Matthew 2:7). They ingenuously informed him, and he sent them away to Bethlehem, saying to them in covert malice: “Go and inquire after the Infant, and when you have found Him, announce it to me, in order that I, too, may go to recognize and adore Him.” The Magi departed, leaving the hypocritical king ill at ease and in great consternation at such indisputable signs of the coming of the legitimate King of Israel in the world. On leaving Jerusalem the Magi again found the star, which at their entrance they had lost from view. By its light they were conducted to Bethlehem and to the cave of the Nativity. Diminishing in size it hovered over the head of the Infant Jesus and bathed Him in its light; whereupon the matter of which it had composed dissolved and disappeared. Our great Queen (Mother Mary) had already been prepared by the Lord for the coming of the Kings, and when she understood that they were approaching the cave, She requested Saint Joseph not to leave it, but to stay at her side. The heavenly Mother awaited the pious and devout kings, standing with the Child in her arms. Amid the humble and poor surroundings of the cave, in comparable modesty and beauty, she exhibited at the same time majesty more than human, the light of heaven shinning in her countenance. Still more visible was the light in the Child, shedding through the cavern effulgent splendor, which made it like heaven. The three kings of the East entered and at the first sight of the Son and Mother they were for a considerable space of time overwhelmed with wonder. They prostrated themselves upon the earth, and in this position worshipped and adored the Infant, acknowledging Him as the true God and man, and as the Savior of the human race. By the divine power, which the sight of Him and His presence exerted in their souls, they were filled with new enlightenment. They perceived the multitude of angelic spirits who as servants and ministers of the King of kings and Lord of lords attended upon Him in reverential fear (Heb. 1:4). Arising, the congratulated their and our Queen as Mother of the Son of the eternal Father; and they approached to reverence Her on their knees. . . .as they were accustomed to do to their queens in their country. Source: The Mystical City of God Part II Book IV, Chapter XVI
Posted on: Sun, 04 Jan 2015 17:59:14 +0000
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