Wise Men still seek Epiphany

The Roman Catholic Lectionary today, in North America, celebrates the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. The text from Matthew tells of the visit of wise men from the east to the child Jesus and His mother Mary. Tradition has added many colourful details to these visitors. The Gospel describes gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh brought by the visitors to child King. What were the “Magi” thinking? What was bringing them on this search? What signs drew them? What do their gifts tell us of their expectations? What about our expectations in our search? The wisdom of these visitors is shown in the gifts; gold because they sought a king, frankincense because they understood this event to be an anointing of the Divine, myrrh, because they knew of the difficulties and bitter challenges facing this king who is anointed by God. The lectionary includes Paul’s proclamation that this mystery of the King, Son of God, is for all people. The wise men from the East are not likely Jews. The revelation of the child King, the Epiphany, is for all people of all time. A friend sent a card which reminds me that “Wise Men still seek him”. What expectations do the wise men of today bring? Today we still seek leadership and direction of the Divine and we have the sense that this may require change in us which is difficult. Our gifts today are still gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Our homage may be directed to the indwelling Spirit which informed Paul and still makes us wise.