The Visit of the Wise Men

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany. The tradition recalls the visit of the wise men to Jesus. Matthew provides his account in the Gospel today. The wise men from the east bring a confirmation that the person who has been born in Bethlehem is special, marked by celestial phenomena and gifted with gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The gold is the gift for a king. Matthew, who has addressed his Gospel to Jews, is showing Jesus place as the Messianic King of the line of David for whom the Hebrew people have waited. Frankincense is used in prayer. The wise men give thanks for the encounter this meeting has been with the Divine. Myrrh is used in preparation of bodies for burial. This hints at the division and death which will start with Herod’s response to the news of Jesus birth and will eventually lead to the execution of Jesus. The texts from the prophet Isaiah and the proclamation of the psalmist indicate that a time will come of justice, peace and righteousness when the lost and displaced Hebrew people will reunite under God and the people of all nations will come in joy to recognize this and praise God. Paul writes to the Ephesians that this mystery has been revealed through the indwelling Spirit to be that the Gentiles are also full heirs to the relationship of joy, peace and righteousness as the Jews have anticipated. This relationship will grow through the communion of the indwelling Spirit with the Divine through Jesus.