♔ THE EPIPHANY, THE CONTROVERSIAL SIGN & ST JOSEPH HOSTS THE MAGI ♔

Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

- Isaiah 60:3

Just as Jesus had been revealed to the Jews by way of the shepherds at his crib, so too, he was revealed to the Gentiles by means of the infamous “Three Kings” or “Wise Men”. As early as 361 A.D., Christians fixed the date of January 6 to be the feast day of the Epiphany, commemorating the Visitation of the Magi (Persian wise men or astrologers) to adore the Infant Jesus. This encounter was to be the revelation of Christ to all nations, as they represented the non-Jewish people of the world.

VISITORS FROM THE EAST

According to the Gospel of St. Matthew the Wise Men of the East came to Bethlehem to pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews. Since three gifts were given to the baby Jesus from the Magi, it has always been assumed that there were three Wise Men sometimes called the “Three Kings of the East”. The Bible does not give us their names, but tradition as early as the 6^th century gives us their names: Gaspar (sometimes Caspar or Jaspar), Melchior and Balthasar.

As for where they traveled from, we are only told that they “came from the East”, but traditionally they were held to be from Persia, as their earliest depictions in art show them in Persian costume.

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, Magi came from the East to Jerusalem... - St. Matthew 2:1

A CONTROVERSIAL SIGN

The Magi were following a sign in the sky – a bright and unusual star – which guided them to Bethlehem. This star, and the Wise Men who followed it, have been the topic of debate for some people, as there are some who claim that this star was the work of the Devil, most notably the religious group “Jehovah’s Witnesses”. Their reasoning behind this claim is that since these Wise Men, also known as Magi, were astrologers, they were to be condemned rather than celebrated. They see the arrival of the Wise Men from the East, who were thought to be astrologers, as something diabolical since the Bible condemns sorcery and astrology in such books as Deuteronomy 18:10-11 and Isaiah 47:13-14.

Also, the fact that the star followed by the Magi led them directly to the evil King Herod does not help their case. Because the Wise Men spoke to King Herod regarding the birth of Jesus (the prophesied King of the Jews); he later sought to kill the child. Had the Wise Men not seen the star and followed it, King Herod would not have been alerted about the birth of this “King of the Jews” whom he saw to be a threat to his power.

Afterwards, Herod would deploy his soldiers into the town of Bethlehem to destroy all the male children under the age of two, in the hopes that one of them would be the newborn king. Though this would be a heartbreaking event in history, these slain Innocents would become the first martyrs who shed their blood for Christ. In the end, the Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that this star and the Wise Men were part of the Devil’s ploy to do away with the Son of God.

REDEEMED ASTROLOGERS

We can read in the Bible that the Wise Men were meaning to find Jesus not to cause him harm, but rather to “come to worship him” (St. Matthew 2:2). Though the star was discovered and followed by these Magi, who practised astrology, it was meant to be a sign of hope to the foreign people, the Gentiles, as well as to those most in need of redemption, the sinners. St. John Chrysostom (347-407) believed that the star was a means by God to purposely attract the Gentiles of the East. Also, according to St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430), Christ chose to make himself known to pious and simple shepherd Jews as well as the Wise Men of Persia.

“God calls them by means of the things they are most familiar with; and He shows them a large and extraordinary star so that they would be impressed by its size and beauty." - St. John Chrysostom, Homily on Gospel of St. Matthew

“The shepherds were Israelites, the Magi were Gentiles. The former were nigh to Him, the latter far from Him. Both hastened to Him together as to the cornerstone. ...As unskillfulness predominates in the rustic manners of the shepherds, so ungodliness abounds in the profane rites of the Magi. Yet did this Corner-Stone draw both to Itself; inasmuch as He came ‘to choose the foolish things that He might confound the wise’, and ‘not to call the just, but sinners,’”- St. Augustine of Hippo, Sermon on the Epiphany

The Bible even tells us that when they found where Jesus was, they “rejoiced exceedingly” and “falling down, they worshiped him.” (St. Matthew 2:11). The Magi are described as falling down and this is important to note that, in the Roman and Jewish traditions, kneeling or prostration was seen as undignified. To this day, people of the Jewish faith do not kneel when they pray, but rather they stand. This was the complete opposite for the Persians; to them this was a sign of the greatest respect and reverence, used when venerating a recognized King. To this day kneeling is an important element of Christian worship particularly within the Catholic Church where genuflecting is also a part of worship. 

Eastern tradition holds that after they adored the Infant Jesus and presented their gifts, the Virgin Mary gave them, as a token of friendship, some of Our Lord’s garments to bring back with them to the East. The Magi returned to Persia and in the year 40 A.D., they were baptized by St. Thomas the Apostle. Later on, dying for their faith in Jesus Christ, Gaspar, Melchior and Balthasar were celebrated as martyrs and saints. In renaissance art they are often depicted with halos.

ST. JOSEPH’S COURT

We wonder, what was the purpose of the Magi meeting in Herod’s palace before finding the Holy Family? St. John Chrysostom (347-407) gives us the significance of this meeting:

“The star had been hidden from them so that, on finding themselves without their guide, they would have no alternative but to consult the Jews [in King Herod’s court]. In this way the birth of Jesus would be made known to all.” - St. John Chrysostom, Homily on the Gospel of St. Matthew

After leaving the extravagant court of King Herod, the three Wise Men found themselves in the humble court of St. Joseph. He would have felt especially honoured to receive these esteemed men as guests and would have respectfully invited them in to adore the Infant Jesus. These men would have been used to the finer things in life, but would gladly set aside their pomp for the simple surroundings they now found themselves in.  After adoring the Holy Child, we are told by Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich that St. Joseph sought to be a kind host and entertain his guests with a meal and some good conversation, putting everyone at ease:

“Meanwhile Joseph... had set out a light meal in the kings’ tent... I saw Joseph receiving them with great friendliness and begging them to be his guests and accept this modest meal. He reclined among them round the low table as they ate. He was not at all shy, and was so happy...” - Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich, The Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Part 13, Chapter 22

At this gathering there were no rich or poor, royal or lowly, but rather they were all men of equal integrity. Though the Wise Men had come to see the new born King of the Jews expecting to be led to a palace, they knew that upon entering they were in fact in a royal court, however meek but dignified. The throne Christ sat upon was not of gold or set with diamonds, but rather was the lap of the Blessed Virgin – the jewel of God’s creation. The Divine Infant King was not clothed in robes of fine silks, but rather in simple swaddling clothes, bestowed upon him by his mother.  St. Joseph, though not outwardly of royal nobility, was the Prince of this little kingdom on earth and was the most gracious and noble of those men present. (The phrase "not outwardly of royal nobility" meaning that the throne was suppressed from his family, therefore his was a hidden royalty. More on the nobility of St Joseph HERE)

When God the Father decided to give His Son to the world, He wanted to do so with honour, since He is worthy of all honour and glory. He thus prepared Him a court and royal service worthy of Him: God desired that His Son should have an honourable and glorious reception on earth, if not in the eyes of the world, at least in His own eyes.... The court of the Son of God made Man was composed of Mary and Joseph: God Himself could not have found more worthy servants for His Son. - St. Peter Julian Eymard, Premier et le plus Parfait des Adorateurs