Let us rejoice, the Christmas holidays are finally here! God the Father shows the world the splendor of His glory in the coming of Christ, born of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as the ancient prophets foretold. We celebrate this mysterious and joyous wonder in a spirit of faith and love. As we make our journey of faith through Advent this year, I thought I would share some learning points to reflect on this Christmas holiday about the Nativity of Jesus from St. Matthew’s Gospel.
The birth of Jesus Christ is explained in just 12 verses in Matthew’s Gospel, but there is – as is often the norm with Sacred Scripture – much going on with those 12 verses.
When thinking about the Nativity of Jesus some things may come to mind:
- Jesus, Mary and Joseph
- The town of Bethlehem
- The rising star of Bethlehem
- Herod the Great
- The visit of the Magi
- The gifts of the Magi
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, Matthew 2:1
Who were the Magi?
Here are some things to ponder about these ancient, mysterious travelers.
- The Magi were deemed wise men with specialized knowledge (dream interpretation and astrology).
- The Magi were the first Gentiles to recognize and give reverence to the Kingship of Christ.
- The Magi traveled long distances (from the east) to see the child Jesus.
- It is said there were three magi but Matthew’s Gospel does not specify.
- The Magi prostrated themselves on their faces before Jesus (an act associated with divine worship).
- The Magi followed a rising star in the sky in search for a king.
A star shall advance from Jacob, and a scepter shall rise from Israel, That will crush the brows of Moab, and the skull of all the Sethites, Numbers 24:17
What was the star?
They were overjoyed at seeing the star. Matthew 2:10
There has been some speculation that the star was a comet, planets lining up (planetary conjunction) and giving off brightness or a stellar explosion (a nova), but Matthew’s Gospel indicates otherwise.
…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. Matthew 2:9
God is quietly and mysteriously providing his own Divine guidance to lead the Magi to Jesus. It is possible the star may have been an angel of the Lord.
In the Jewish tradition stars were associated with angels and the guiding star in Matthew’s Gospel recalls the angel God sent to guide the people in the desert on their way to the promised land. Source: Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture
The angel of God, who had been leading Israel’s army, now moved and went around behind them. And the column of cloud, moving from in front of them, took up its place behind them, Exodus 14:19
According to USCCB, the angel of God in Exodus was actually the work of the Lord:
Angel of God: Hebrew mal’ak ha’elohim (Septuagint ho angelos tou theou) here refers not to an independent spiritual being but to God’s power at work in the world; Source: USCCB
According to the Catholic Dictionary, the star of Bethlehem leading the Magi was most likely an angel.
“…the most likely explanation is that the star was an angel, brilliantly white, leading the Magi to their Savior and King. This would explain why, in the Gospel of Matthew, the star is said to appear and disappear, as well as move forward and stand still.”
Only God knows what the star of Bethlehem really was, but undoubtedly, this rising star did not happen without God’s consent.
And the Magi, who in a way represent us Gentiles from faraway lands, all concur.
…“Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” Matthew 2:2
That is what the Magi asked the people of Jerusalem, and it seems their inquiry about the baby Messiah shook up Herod and the inhabitants of the city.
When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Matthew 2:3
Who was Herod the Great?
“King Herod the Great” was a psychotic, tyrannical leader who was often consumed with fears of conspiracies plotted against him. In his paranoid attempts to put an end to these fears Herod ruthlessly had people slaughtered including his own wife, three sons, and the slaughter of the Holy Innocents in Chapter 2 of Matthew’s Gospel.
He sent them 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.” Matthew 2:8
Herod was lying to the Magi!
He did not want to pay homage to the child.
He wanted to destroy him.
The hostility to Christ in his infancy also prepares the reader of St. Matthew’s Gospel for the opposition he will face at the culmination of his public ministry in Jerusalem. Source: Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture
Apparently, the Magi were able to ascertain that Herod had bad intentions as they left Herod and the diabolical orders he gave them. They wisely did not go back that way.
Once you have a personal encounter with Christ, your life changes course.
“We are making our way toward the light of our heavenly home with the grace of Christ leading us and showing us the way.” – St. Bede the Venerable
The Magi followed the star. And the star followed the will of God.
“The obedience of the star calls us to imitate its humble service: to be servants, as best we can, of the grace that invites all men to find Christ.” – St. Leo the Great
Where is Bethlehem?
- Hebrew translation for Bethlehem is “house of bread.”
- Bethlehem is also identified with the village of Ephrath
- In ancient times, Bethlehem was a village about five miles south of Jerusalem.
- Bethlehem was the hometown of David.
- Bethlehem was the hometown of Boaz, great grandfather of David (Ruth).
- Bethlehem was the birthplace of Benjamin (Genesis).
- Bethlehem was the burial place of Rachel (Genesis).
- David was anointed king by the prophet Samuel at Bethlehem.
- Bethlehem is sometimes called the City of David.
- It was prophesied that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem.
But you, Bethlehem-Ephrathaha least among the clans of Judah, From you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel; Whose origin is from of old, from ancient times. Micah 5:1
Salvation will come through a “messiah,” an anointed ruler. The Book of Micah shares with Isaiah the expectation that God will deliver Israel through a king in the line of David. Bethlehem-Ephrathah is the home of the Davidic line. Source: USCCB
Recap
I have a couple of closing points I would like to share with you. As mentioned earlier, the Magi prostrated themselves on that starry night before the Christ child. And in that way they serve as a model for adoring Jesus in the Eucharist.
They also provided the baby Jesus gifts fit for a true king.
- Gold (a precious metal) – because Jesus is a King
- Frankincense (an expensive perfume for incense) – because Jesus is God
- Myrrh (a valuable spice) – because Jesus became one of us, a mortal man, who would suffer greatly and die on the cross for us as the prophets foretold.
and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:11
We exchange presents with our loved ones during Christmas. We exchange love with Jesus our Lord when we receive him with faith in the Eucharist. The Christ child was sent by the Father in heaven to save us. May the light of Christ lead and guide our traveling hearts home to heaven to be with Jesus forever. Merry Christmas!
“The mother holds the child for the Magi to adore; the Father reveals that his Son is to be worshiped by all the nations.” – St. Maximus
