Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” Matthew 2: 1-12
Those of us, who attended Catholic Primary School in any one of many different English-speaking countries during the period 1930s – early 1960s, would still remember Bible History lessons. We know well the story of how the mother of the infant Moses set her son adrift on the edge of the River Nile in a wicker basket, hoping that he would be found and adopted. We remember that Miriam, Moses’ sister, watched from hiding how the daughter of Pharaoh came to bathe in the river and discovered the baby floating by in the basket. When it became clear that she intended to take the baby home, Miriam approached her and offered to find a Hebrew mid-wife who might rear the child. Pharaoh’s daughter agreed and Miriam brought her mother to nurture the child she had set adrift. Such was the providence of God. This took place well after Jacob and all his sons had died. We remember how Joseph, the dreamer, who had been sold into slavery by his elder brothers, had risen to fame and power in the Pharaoh’s court in Egypt, had saved his father and brothers from starvation and had been reconciled with them all. A new Pharoah, who had no knowledge of Joseph, had come to power in Egypt and was concerned at the rapid increase in population among the Hebrew people in his kingdom. Fearing that, as adults, the males among the Hebrews might turn against him, the Pharaoh ordered his aides to drown all the Hebrew new-born boys. By the time Moses was three months old, his mother knew that she could no longer hide him. So, she set him adrift in the hope that he would be found and adopted. That’s how he came to grow up in the Pharoah’s household. All this is recorded in the opening chapters of the Book of Exodus.
Moses eventually came to rescue his people from slavery in Egypt. The writer of today’s gospel-reading, to whom we have attributed the name Matthew, obviously knew the story of Moses. He saw a close parallel between Moses and Jesus and used the story of the journey of the Magi from the East to underline how Jesus had come from God to bring freedom and enlightenment not only to the Hebrew nation (the people of Israel) but to the whole world, including all the gentile peoples (represented by the Magi). The new threat to the Hebrew nation was Herod, who feared that his status and power were under threat when he was informed that the Magi had arrived searching for the new-born King of the Jews. As a protective measure for himself, he ordered all the male Hebrew children to be murdered. We know how Joseph, in a dream, was directed to take Mary, pregnant with Jesus, and flee with them to safety in Egypt. Subsequently, after Herod’s death, Joseph would return with his family and take up new residence in the village of Nazareth in Galilee.
In hindsight, Matthew, writing his Gospel after the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, used the imaginative story of the Magi to make the point that God’s salvation, kindness, love and enlightenment are intended not only for the people of Israel but for all the peoples of the world. We have long been conscious of the fact that God’s presence is revealed to us in many ways – for example, in the person of Jesus, through the beauty of creation, through the goodness, love and selflessness of people all around us and in the Scriptures. The Magi relied on their knowledge of astrology and their study of the night sky to go in search of further wisdom and enlightenment. When they arrived in Jerusalem after a long and arduous journey they were humble enough to seek additional guidance that had been provided to Herod by the Jewish chief priests and scribes whose knowledge of the prophet Micah included the revelation that the Christ of God, the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. The irony, of course, was that the religious leaders of Israel would not accept Micah’s revelation while the gentiles from the East, accepting it on faith, located the new-born King of the Jews and bowed before him in humble worship.
Matthew’s creative account of the arrival of the Magi, of their secret meeting with Herod and their suspicions of Herod’s murderous plans does not mean that this story was limited to a fable or a literary device. Christians through the ages have conservatively limited the number of the Magi to three, for no other reason than the fact that they offered three gifts. Caravans of travellers at that time in history tended to be larger in number. So, it’s possible that the group that arrived in Jerusalem included whole families. Of more importance about this event are the actions of seeking and finding in which the members of the group engaged and the practical response they made to their being over-awed in the presence of the Christ Child. And isn’t that something to which we can all relate? Our faith journey, our searching for God has so far been lifelong. Moreover, it will continue and deepen. Our response must be to put into practical action for others the Gospel message we have integrated into our lives. As the letter of St James stresses: “Faith without good deeds is dead” (James 2: 14-26)
On a sadder note, the story of Herod is a reminder to us that powerful people like him have been replicated through the ages. Moreover, parts of our world are even now experiencing the murder of countless innocent, defenceless and vulnerable children. It is murder perpetrated by potentates intent on self-seeking, heedless of the havoc they are visiting on others. In that context how might we take on the Gospel call to be peace-makers.
On a penultimate note, let’s not forget that the Magi were ignorant of the religious beliefs and practices of Israel. Yet, they respected the revelation of one of Israel’s prophets alongside their knowledge of astrology. Perhaps Matthew is telling us to be tolerant of the religious beliefs and practices of those who do not share our faith. And finally, if something of God can be revealed through a star, through the word of a First-Testament prophet, through a story from Matthew, there is nothing that cannot be a revelation of the goodness and love of God, All we need to do is to keep our eyes and ears open to the surprises that God puts in our way.