Matthew 2:9-12

After months of searching the wise men have found what they were searching for. Joy at the safe arrival of a baby is our natural response, and it is no different in this story. The angels have announced news of great joy, the shepherds have rejoiced, Mary has praised God and rejoiced in the Magnificat and the Magi have expressed joy and worship on finding the baby. That is the right response to this Christmas story.

Mathew tells us that these men fell down and worshipped the infant Jesus. The word he uses implies that a person prostrates themself in homage, as to a king. It must have been an extraordinary sight to see these Magi face down on the floor in front of a little child. As part of their worship, they have brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Because of the three gifts it has become traditional to think of them as three wise men, but scripture doesn’t tell us how many, there may have been a lot more than three. Gold is a traditional gift for a king, frankincense which was part of the incense used in the Temple is seen as a gift for a priest and myrrh, which was used at Jesus’ crucifixion and burial, is a sign of his death. These spices can be used for other things and indeed myrrh in the OT is a symbol of joy but here it points us forward to what is to come.

We know very little about where these wise men came from exactly, or how it long it took them, how long Mary and Joseph had been at Bethlehem when they arrived or how long the wise men stayed. It probably wasn’t for long as they are warned to leave and avoid Herod who is on the war path. The hearts of these Gentile worshippers were open to God who was able to direct them and keep them and the baby Jesus safe. We cannot underestimate through whom and how God may speak.

Reflection

The gifts the Magi brought were costly. Our worship too should cost us something. Jesus calls us to take up our cross and follow him. Worship that is flippant and shallow is no worship at all, true worship that is lived out in life will cost us at times. True worshippers, Jesus tells us, worship in Spirit and in truth.