By Ricardo Márquez
The Gospel of Matthew brings us the good news of the visit of the Three Wise Men from the East, known as the Magi, to find Jesus. Over time, the observance of the stars has sparked the creation of myths and beliefs to signal the profound impact “the sky” has on the history of humanity.
We can assume that the Magi were possibly astrologers coming from Persia, Arabia or other remote nations. The catechetical intention of the Gospel of Matthew is to signal that Jesus not only fulfills the promise of salvation for the People of Israel but equally the hope for all peoples on earth, far beyond the borders of Israel.
In the sky, the Magi astrologers could recognize a special conjunction of stars that sparked their curiosity and enticed them to leave their lands and search for “something special” that had occurred: “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him” (Matthew 2:2).
This tradition of the Magi, the source of happy childhood memories, loses its meaning if it remains only a reference to Christmas presents and school presentations. The most precious gift of this story is in the invitation “to look to the stars,” to search from a more elevated perspective for signs of the mystery of God present in our lives; signals, experiences and events that invite us to inquire, to move and step closer to the “crib,” the intimate and mysterious reality of a God who “pitches His tent among us” to become part of our story.
We struggle to understand that a luminous event like the birth of Jesus was followed by the death of many innocent infants, deaths stoked by a profound and hidden insecurity, disguised as power, held by the person of King Herod.
Today, we see traces of that reality. Light, hope and salvation appear simultaneously with a reality that is dark, devastating and lethal. Territorial conflicts, religious fanaticism, mutual aggressions, the bombing of settlers, the displacement of human beings, death, hunger and sickness are the news emanating from the East.
I struggle to understand what I’m seeing; I see uncontrolled violence and feel powerless and hopeless, afraid and fearful for the future of our humanity. That’s the way it is; I acknowledge and accept my emotions. But I have come to learn that it’s one thing to recognize what we feel, our emotions, and another to give them the power to guide our reactions and our life.
We celebrate the visit of the Magi on the Feast of the Epiphany on Jan. 6. That celebration invites us to look up to the stars that shine precisely when the nights are at their darkest. The memory of the Magi reminds us that, to find the light, we have to inquire and travel to reach the “crib” and be able to see the eyes of a Cchild that reflect in His gaze the immensity of the mystery. The Magi remind us, as well, that, through our faith, we can hold the fragile, simple, humble Child who gave us eternal hope and love.
Ricardo Márquez can be reached at marquez_muskus@yahoo.com.
