We Three Kings

Today is the Epiphany of the Lord when a child born in darkness of the night is revealed as the one in whom God is present and acts to bring light.  Isaiah (60:1-6) says: “…Caravans of camels shall fill you, dromedaries from Midian and Ephah; all from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.”  Although Isaiah was not speaking of Jesus, Matthew thought otherwise and spun his beautiful story of the three kings using Isaiah.

According to Raymond E. Brown – the priest-scholar who has written extensively on the coming of Christ in Advent – Matthew also borrowed from the story of Moses in which Magus Balaam [famous non-Israelite seer or enchanter] came from the East and saw the star of the Davidic king rise from Israel (Numbers 22-24).

Balaam said, “There shall come a man out of Israel’s seed, and he shall rule many nations…I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not close: a star [star of David] shall rise from Jacob, and a man shall come forth from Israel.”  After Jesus’ birth, magi [magicians or astronomers] come from the East having seen the star of the King of the Jews. 

Christmas is now past us, but we still look for the star.  Sometimes it’s above us, and we sense Jesus’ closeness.  At other times the star is distant, and Jesus might seem far away.    Not so.  Wherever that star can be found, its light still reaches us.   We magi just have to open our eyes.

Deacon David Pierce