THREE ORIENTALS PROCLAIM CHRIST’ S MISSION
The Magi were men who were skilled in philosophy, medicine, and natural science, they were also soothsayers and interpreters of dreams. Later on the word ‘Magus’ developed a much lower meaning; and came to mean a sorcerer, a fortune-teller or a magician, in one word, a ‘charlatan’. But the Magi mentioned in the Gospel were good and holy men, in search of the truth.
In those ancient days all men believed in astrology. They believed that they could foretell the future from the stars. We do not know for sure what brilliant star those ancient Magi saw. But in the years between 5 to 2 BC an unusual astronomical phenomenon did take place. In the first Egyptian month, called Mesori, the dog star, Sirius, shone with extraordinary brilliance.
Now the word MESORI means ‘the birth of a prince’, and to those ancient astrologers such a star would have meant the birth of a king. Though it seems strange, (or is it?) just about that time Jesus was born. And, there was in the world a strange feeling of expectation of the coming of a king. Even the Roman Historians wrote about this.
For one, Suetonius wrote: “There had spread over all the Orient an old and established belief, that it was fated at that time for men coming from Judea to rule the world”. The Jews of that time even believed that “about that time one from their country should become governor of the habitable earth” (Josephus Flavius). At the same time Jesus was born, Augustus, Roman Emperor was hailed as the saviour of the world. Meanwhile Virgil, the Roman poet was writing in his Messianic Eclogue, about the golden days to come.
You see how God works? HE lets nature take its course; man deciding on his plans and future projections, whilst God uses man’s foolishness and planning to HIS Divine Will. When Jesus Christ came, the world was in an eagerness of expectation. Men were waiting for God and the desire for God was in their hearts.
Epiphany means Manifestation, the Manifestation of the Child Jesus to the three holy men from the East. Through them, up to an extent, there was a foreshadowing of the Passion of Christ, and the Glory at Easter, and thus completes the whole message of Christmas. At Epiphany Christ is revealed as Lord, God and King; the Adoration of the new-born Child by the Magi, the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan and the Marriage Feast at Cana.
The star (the ancient symbol of kings and gods), reveals the divine kingship of the penniless babe in Betlehem to the Wise Men. At the Jordan the Father testifies the divineship of His Son and the power of God descends upon Him. The miracle at Cana reveals the divine authority of Jesus.
“Arise, shine out, Jerusalem for the glory of the Lord has shed its light upon you!” This is what we read in the dawn Mass at Christmas, we glimpsed the return of our lost paradise, which today appears in its full regal splendour. Standing beside Christ the King we see His Bride, the Church in increasing glory. Flooded by His light she recognizes Him and hastens towards Him. A bride she is and at the same time a Mother of all nations, my Mother and your Mother. Today we celebrate the ‘Motherhood of Mary’.
The Magi were men who were skilled in philosophy, medicine, and natural science, they were also soothsayers and interpreters of dreams. Later on the word ‘Magus’ developed a much lower meaning; and came to mean a sorcerer, a fortune-teller or a magician, in one word, a ‘charlatan’. But the Magi mentioned in the Gospel were good and holy men, in search of the truth.
In those ancient days all men believed in astrology. They believed that they could foretell the future from the stars. We do not know for sure what brilliant star those ancient Magi saw. But in the years between 5 to 2 BC an unusual astronomical phenomenon did take place. In the first Egyptian month, called Mesori, the dog star, Sirius, shone with extraordinary brilliance.
Now the word MESORI means ‘the birth of a prince’, and to those ancient astrologers such a star would have meant the birth of a king. Though it seems strange, (or is it?) just about that time Jesus was born. And, there was in the world a strange feeling of expectation of the coming of a king. Even the Roman Historians wrote about this.
For one, Suetonius wrote: “There had spread over all the Orient an old and established belief, that it was fated at that time for men coming from Judea to rule the world”. The Jews of that time even believed that “about that time one from their country should become governor of the habitable earth” (Josephus Flavius). At the same time Jesus was born, Augustus, Roman Emperor was hailed as the saviour of the world. Meanwhile Virgil, the Roman poet was writing in his Messianic Eclogue, about the golden days to come.
You see how God works? HE lets nature take its course; man deciding on his plans and future projections, whilst God uses man’s foolishness and planning to HIS Divine Will. When Jesus Christ came, the world was in an eagerness of expectation. Men were waiting for God and the desire for God was in their hearts.
Epiphany means Manifestation, the Manifestation of the Child Jesus to the three holy men from the East. Through them, up to an extent, there was a foreshadowing of the Passion of Christ, and the Glory at Easter, and thus completes the whole message of Christmas. At Epiphany Christ is revealed as Lord, God and King; the Adoration of the new-born Child by the Magi, the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan and the Marriage Feast at Cana.
The star (the ancient symbol of kings and gods), reveals the divine kingship of the penniless babe in Betlehem to the Wise Men. At the Jordan the Father testifies the divineship of His Son and the power of God descends upon Him. The miracle at Cana reveals the divine authority of Jesus.
“Arise, shine out, Jerusalem for the glory of the Lord has shed its light upon you!” This is what we read in the dawn Mass at Christmas, we glimpsed the return of our lost paradise, which today appears in its full regal splendour. Standing beside Christ the King we see His Bride, the Church in increasing glory. Flooded by His light she recognizes Him and hastens towards Him. A bride she is and at the same time a Mother of all nations, my Mother and your Mother. Today we celebrate the ‘Motherhood of Mary’.
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