Today is the Solemnity of the Epiphany. We know from Sacred Scripture three wise men followed the star to find Jesus, the newborn King and to adore Him and offer Him gifts.
The Gospel of Matthew said, "...behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw His star at its rising and have come to do him homage.”...."After their audience with the king (Herod) they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the Child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the Child with Mary His Mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage."
We learn from this scripture, that they saw the star at its rising. Then then arrived in Jerusalem and after visiting with Herod, the star preceded them (guiding them and leading them to the Holy Family). Scripture states, the star stopped over a house, therefore, the Holy Family moved out of the cave and into a house. Tradition is that the magi didn't arrive the same night Jesus was born, but arrived on January 6th, 12 to 13 days after Jesus was born. Because they arrived on Jan 6th, the universal Church celebrates the Epiphany on that day, while the USA and a few other countries celebrate the Epiphany the 2nd Sunday after Christmas.
It's believed Saints Casper, Melchior and Balthazar were martyred for the faith and are buried in a tomb in the Cathedral of Cologne, Germany.
Do you recall on Dec. 21st of 2020, a great conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter appeared in the sky that looked like a star? Of course, two planets don't make a star, but when in conjunction, it looked like a star. The last time this occurred was nearly 800 years ago in 1226. Some suspected this was the star of Bethlehem.
However, St. Ignatius of Antioch, who died about 60 years after the death of Jesus, wrote, “A star appeared in the heavens which eclipsed all other stars; its light was indescribable, and its novelty caused astonishment.” Some try to explain the Christmas star as a union of planets are ruling out the miraculous nature of the star’s appearance. But, if God sent angels to shepherds to announce the birth of the Savior and sing “Glory to God in the Highest”, He certainly could made a miraculous star guide the wise men.
The conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter as the Christmas star, conflicts with scripture, that tells us while the Magi were in Jerusalem, the star disappeared. But as they set out for Bethlehem, it appeared again. Then it went forward and halted over the house where the Divine Child was with Mary and Joseph. And when the magi entered the house, they adored the Child and offered Him gifts of gold, frankincense & myrrh.
The star guided the three kings to find the Christ Child, but God illuminated the hearts of the three pagans to understand, the Child was Messiah, God and Savior. Inspired by divine grace they fell to their knees in worship of the Infant God. St Augustine said, “Would they have done this, if they had not recognized Him as the Eternal King?”
Balthasar was from Ethiopia in Africa. He brought myrrh. Myrrh was placed on dead bodies of Jews to prevent decomposing. By offering myrrh they desired to testify to the human nature of Jesus, destined for future suffering, death and burial.
Melchior, was from Persia, which is modern day, Iran. He brought Frankincense, which comes from aromatic oil, used by Jews to offer sacrifice. It was Jewish custom to offer incense to God alone and could be burnt only before God. Any human king to whom incense was offered was an abomination. Caesar declared himself a god and wanted all to burn incense before his images. But Christians refused and suffered martyrdom. So, when incense was offered to the Child Jesus, the Magi wished to express their worship of God hidden under the lowly form of a child.
Caspar was from Tarsus. He was European, whose gift was gold. By offering gold, they acknowledged Him as king. Gold is for a king, and symbolizes the Divinity of the Child Jesus, the newborn King. It is believed all three, although from different countries, providentially met on their journey to Bethlehem.
When the Magi and the shepherds found the Baby Jesus, prostrated themselves before the Divine Infant. It would have taken faith on the part of the shepherds and the magi, to give homage to Jesus, the newborn King. And it takes faith to believe Jesus in the Eucharist is the same Son of God the wise men worshiped under the form of a Child. We believe the Sacred Host is really Jesus. We adore and worship the Eucharist. At Mass, we kneel because we believe God Himself becomes present on the altar in the Host. When the Host is elevated above the altar, we gaze in adoration of Jesus in the Eucharist. As Catholics, we adore and prostrate our self before Jesus during Eucharistic Adoration.
May the Blessed Virgin Mary and Joseph, the first to adore the infant Son of God, help us adore Jesus in the Eucharist by giving Him not gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, but the gifts of love from our hearts of gold, good works from our sacrifices, and offer our prayers which rise like incense before His throne in heaven.
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