The Three Magis

Whilst praying the Franciscan Rosary this weekend, I meditated on the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus.

Matthew 2:10 – 11

“The sight of the star filled them with delight, and going into the house they saw the child with his mother Mary, and falling to their knees they did him homage. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.”

Pictures of this beautiful scene often portray three powerful men, dressed as kings or sages, kneeling in reverence and awe before the infant Jesus in the manger, a snapshot of a moment immortalised in Scripture and Art, picturing the great contradiction and glory of God, Emmanuel.

I wonder what happened next after that scene of homage and gifts? Having travelled so far from the distant East, in search of this “infant king of the Jews”, how long did they stay the night? How long were the Magi on their knees for in adoration? And what did they do during the rest of the time? If they spent the rest of the night talking to Mary and Joseph, what would they have talked about – what wonderful tales of their epic journey, or talk of glorious hopes in the future King would have been shared on that quiet night?

There is a story from the Desert Fathers:

“Three Fathers used to go and visit Blessed Anthony every year and two of them used to discuss their thoughts and the salvation of their souls with him, but the third always remained silent and did not ask him anything. After a long time Abba Anthony said to him, “You often come here to see me, but you never ask me anything,” and he replied, “It is enough for me to see you, Father.”

I realized that on this night of the Magis, there were probably very few words spoken. On that rich night, they may have realized that this infant before them was far greater than they could ever imagine or describe; that He gives them, in His holy Presence, riches far more precious than any gold, frankincense and myrrh. On their knees, they may have realized that in the presence of this Emmanuel, ‘God-With-Us’, all other actions, all words were of triviality, and that the greatest thing that they could do was to adore the One before them, and to receive – to receive His Holy presence and all that this shone upon them.

When we live out our lives of prayer, may we not be drowned in our own busy words and thoughts – our own tales and hopes. Rather, may we recognize the greatness of God’s presence truly here with us - in all that is around us, and penetrating into the greatest depths of our hearts. May we, totally immersed in His boundless love, realize that here is the One that we have long searched for from afar.

On humbled knees, we pray, “You are my Love, my King, my All.”

Isaiah 9:5

“For a son has been born for us,
A son has been given to us,
And dominion has been laid on his shoulders;

And this is the names he has been given,
Wonder Counsellor, Mighty-God,
Eternal Father,
Prince of Peace”