The Magi search for the newborn Jesus
Bible Accent: The Magi
Saint for Today: Ss. Theodore and Theophanes
Puzzle
The Magi search for the newborn Jesus
Before Joseph and Mary lived together as husband and wife, Mary was with child by the power of the Holy Spirit. In order not to cause her any shame, Joseph was going to divorce her quietly, but God had something else planned. An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
This miraculous event fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that said, “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph woke up, he obeyed the angel and took Mary as his wife into his home, and when the boy was born, they named him Jesus.
Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea when Herod was king. Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and began asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.”
When word of this reached Herod, he was very upset. He called the chief priests and the scribes and asked them where the Messiah was going to be born. His advisers said, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.'”
After this Herod sent for the Magi and met with them secretly so he could find out more about when the child had been born and where he might be. He sent the Magi to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.”
The Magi went in search of Jesus, continuing to follow the star that had led them since they had left their home. The star was directly over the birthplace of Jesus. The men were very happy they had found the baby they had been searching for. When they saw Jesus with his mother, the presented gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
They were warned in a dream not to report to Herod, so they returned home by a different route.
READ MORE ABOUT IT:
Matthew 1 and 2
Q&A
1. What did the angel tell Joseph to do?
2. What did Herod want the Magi to tell him?
Bible Accent: The Magi
The Magi, also called the Wise Men, came looking for the newborn Jesus “from the east,” which may have been Arabia, Mesopotamia or another country in that part of the world at the time. They also may have been astrologers, since they followed a particular star as they traveled. They also were Gentiles, not Jews. Over the years tradition says there were three Wise Men, because of the three gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. These traditions, including giving the men the names of Gaspar, Melchior and Balthasar, were the basis for the song, “We Three Kings.” We celebrate the day the Magi found Jesus as the feast of the Epiphany in January.
Saint for Today: Ss. Theodore and Theophanes
Theodore (d. 841) and Theophanes (d. 845) were brothers who had moved with their family to Jerusalem from the land that at one time had belonged to the Moabites. Early in their lives they both became monks in the monastery of St. Sabas, and they both earned recognition for their intelligence and goodness. When Leo the Armenian began a crusade against holy images, the patriarch of Jerusalem sent Theodore to plead with him to leave the church alone. Leo had Theodore whipped and banished him and his brother to a remote island where they endured cold and hunger. The two men were imprisoned and tortured for their faith several times during their lives. Theodore died as a martyr, but his brother was returned to his position and composed many hymns. We honor these men on Dec. 27.
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