The Magi, or the Three Wise Men as we frequently refer to them, found Jesus with Mary, his Mother, and Joseph. They fell prostrate before him and worshiped him. “Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
The Gospel of Matthew tell us very little about the Magi. Most of the details about the Magi are from later Christian tradition rather than on what Matthew tells us.
We sing a song titled “We Three Kings of Orient Are” but Matthew never states how many there were that came to worship the Christ Child. Matthew never states what country the Magi are from, only from the East.
Dr Rebecca Denova tells us that “Herodotus (a Greek historian) claimed that the magos were originally the aristocrats of the Median nation, who were also gifted with the interpretation of dreams. With the spread of Hellenism, magos became an adjective; magas techne, or ars magica in Latin, referred to the expertise of astrology and magical rituals. All these conceptual elements come together in Matthew’s story.”
Some believe that the Magi came from China which is the area of the world that the song references the three kings from Orient. Some believe that the Magi came from Babylon or Saudia Arabia.
We only know that they came from the East. Many believe that they were from Iran because of the term Magi referred to the priests of the Zoroastrian religion in that ancient time.
Bible Odyssey tells us “The New Revised Standard Version translates the Greek word magoi as “wise men,” but this is not a very accurate translation. The word usually means “astrologers” or “magicians.” It can also refer, more specifically, to priests of the Zoroastrian religion — an Iranian tradition that has influenced both Judaism and Christianity. Zoroastrian magi were famous in the ancient world for their skills in interpreting the nighttime sky, so Matthew’s enigmatic figures may have been priests who hailed from Iran.”
Dr Denova tells us “The individual names of the Magi most likely came from a manuscript written in Alexandria, Egypt c. 500 CE. Other details were added from an 8th-century Irish manuscript. In the Western tradition they are:
Melchior – an old man with white hair and a long beard – a king of Persia.
Gaspar – beardless and ruddy-complexioned – a king of India.
Balthasar – black-skinned and heavily bearded – a king of Arabia or a Moor.
The mention of skin color may represent the nations depicted in the genealogies of Noah’s sons, Shem, Ham, and Japtheth. By tradition, they all live to be over 100. Their experience led them to convert to Christianity, and stories emerged that they all died as martyrs (from the 17th-century Spanish Chronicon of Dexter).” Our tradition about the Magi comes from a long history of interpretation or misinterpretation over many centuries and even millennia.
There is no mention of how many were in the group. There could have been many of them due to the great stir caused in Jerusalem when they came to King Herod seeking the newborn king of the Jews.
Matthew tells us “magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem”. This indicates that they were Gentiles because, unlike the Shepards who came from the hillside around Bethlehem, they came from the east of Jerusalem.
We know that the Magi had wealth, and therefore power, because of the gifts they brought to Jesus. Gold, a precious metal, frankincense, which is an incense and perfume, and Myrrh, a spice that was used to embalm kings in that time. They were probably wise men or counselors to a king who were respected and trusted because of their great knowledge.
It’s intriguing to try to discover who the Magi really were and their names. They could have come from China, Iran, Babylon, Saudi Arabia, or another country. There could have been three of them or twenty or forty of them.
We don’t know much about them. The important message is that they obviously traveled a great distance searching for Jesus, the newborn King of the Jews. And these Magi searched until they found the Newborn King and worshiped him.
I’m sure they endured many hardships during their travels, possibly running low on water, food, or shelter. They continued their journey until they found the Christ Child. Nothing stopped them; not even King Herod wanted to kill the newborn king.
We too search for Jesus. It doesn’t matter who we are or our names, or how many of us are searching for him. Do we search with the diligence of the Magi? They traveled a great distance. We depict them on camels which would indicate travel through a desert.
How diligent is our search for Christ? Do we persevere when it gets difficult, when we travel through the sesert of our lives? Are we ashamed that we are Catholic when we are around others who may not believe in Christ? Do we let our doubts and fears prevent us from seeking Christ?
What gifts do we bring? The Magi brought gifts of great value. We too can bring gifts of great value to Christ. Not gold, frankincense, and myrrh but all that we have and are, our entire being. That is the value that Jesus wants from us.
Are we willing to lie prostrate in front of Jesus and give him everything? The Magi gave everything they brought with them to Jesus and went away empty handed.
Will we give all the wealth we have or ever will have, our families and friends, our will and desires, our dreams, our very souls so that nothing can come between us and Christ? That is all Jesus wants. Will we give it all to him or will our egos get in the way and prevent us from surrendering ourselves him?
