Epiphany
The three wise men, otherwise known as the Magi, were God-seekers. They had studied the stars, for they had heard of the prophecy of Balaam, that a star would rise out of Jacob (cf. Num 24:17). Their gaze is ever turned towards Heaven. In this, they are our models. Modern man looks down on the generations that came before him. He thinks he knows more because he has travelled to the moon and explored outer space, and yet he fails to climb the summits of his own heart; he is unable to conquer the evil in him, and so he prides himself on his technological advances and pretends he is better. But he is far worse.
The Magi not only seek God; they set themselves in motion to find Him. There are no delays, and no excuses. They set out on a long, difficult journey, and overcome all the obstacles they encounter, not least of which was the usurper King Herod and the Jewish priests, none of whom seemed to have the slightest interest in the Messiah.
In the delicate situation of Jerusalem, the Magi inspire us with their zeal, and their immoveable dedication to finding the One they seek, despite any troubles their quest might arouse in the hearts of those who were only interested in worldly power. When they finally arrive in Bethlehem, they are not disappointed by the accoutrement of the newborn King. There is no palace, no guards, no royal robes. That matters not to them. The light of faith shines in their hearts, and they offer royal, divine gifts to the Babe before them. They worship Him as God, they honour Him as King, and they pay homage to Him as a mortal man. And then, alerted by the angel, they return home by another path, for when you have truly met the Lord Jesus, you must change directions in your life.
The story of the three kings is also the story of a vocation. It is the story of a soul who, amidst a dark world, sees a light, a star, that draws him away from the surrounding darkness, and into the light of God. The world does not understand; the world stands speechless. It does not make sense to the world. It is foolish to leave behind the comfort of home and family and to run off to a monastery. The world has all sorts of objections, but the one who has heard the call knows he must go. He cannot explain it, and few believe him when he speaks of it. But there is an urgency that makes it impossible for him to refuse or even to delay. Once he is there before the King, he receives the reward of his efforts. Divine grace enlightens him and fills his heart to overflowing, as it did the Magi when they saw the star. Still, the world does not understand, but that does not matter.
Not only does the world not understand, but worse, it is troubled, as all Jerusalem was troubled at the news of the newborn Babe. Just as the star disappeared when the Magi entered Jerusalem, so may a dark night fall upon the chosen soul. Times of darkness and desolation are part and parcel of growing in faith and virtue. The manner in which that soul handles such trials determines his degree of sanctity. If he patiently perseveres and reaches the goal, all the trouble vanishes, the heart is enlarged, and the measure of love increases. But he must be careful not to miss the moments of grace. Jesus comes at unexpected times and in unexpected ways, but those who seek Him sincerely and consistently will certainly find Him. May we be among those blessed souls.
