Thursday, December 29

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Matthew 2:10-11

When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

Ah, the Magi from the east! The Wise Men! Almost every time I think of the wise men I think of two things almost simultaneously. I think of the time, in about third grade, when I got to play the part of a wise man in our school Christmas pageant – complete with the terry-cloth bathrobe, makeshift turban and a beautiful gift to present to the child! I also think of the Christmas carol:

We three kings of orient are;

Bearing gifts we traverse afar,

Field and fountain, moor and mountain,

Following yonder star.

I think I loved being one of the wise men because I got to actually do something! The other parts for boys – the shepherds and Joseph – just sort of stood there. Joseph stood silently by Mary as she held the child. The shepherds stood by with their crooked sticks and cardboard sheep – which wasn’t all bad because of the sticks! But we wise men got to walk all the way across the stage – because we came from a mysterious place just called “the east” – and we got to kneel down before the child and offer him exotic looking gifts!

And so it is with the little wooden wise men of our crèche from Israel. Each appears to be more formally dressed than the other characters in the scene. Their robes are ornate and heavy looking. One is wearing a very large, cone-shaped hat or crown of some kind. The others are wearing fancy-looking turbans – and all three look very dignified and important. 

Each is bearing a different gift. The one with the big hat is carrying a small box with both hands – as if it is either very fragile or very valuable – or both. Another seems to be carrying a bag of some kind – almost like a long sock with something heavy in the end. The third wise man is kneeling on one knee and is holding a small box open as if to show its contents. It looks all the world like a box of cigars – but since I know it can’t be that – it must be one of the three gifts that scripture indicates these foreigners brought to honor the newborn king; gold, frankincense, or myrrh.

One more thing I notice about these figures – their eyes. The eyes of each figure are carved with great detail. It gives them the appearance of staring with great curiosity – great intensity – almost as if seeing that which others cannot see.

What did the Magi see? They saw a star; a sign in the heavens that God would soon do something new; something that would change the cosmos forever. 

What did they see? They saw a child born to be King; a child worthy of both their pursuit and their worship. 

What did they see? They saw a King to whom they gave the gift of gold; a High Priest to whom they gave the gift of frankincense; and one whose body would be prepared for burial to whom they gave the gift of myrrh.

So what do I see when I look at the child? What do you see? Do we see a cute and quaint story that we remember once each year? Or do we see a cross and an empty tomb?

Lord, grant me the eyes and the faith of these Magi that I too may worship you!

Pastor Brian Coffey