11 January 2010: Offering of the Magi

The Magi diligently observed an Oriental custom that no one comes before a king or powerful prince without offering him presents. After having adored the Infant Jesus by prostrating themselves, they opened their treasures, and “offered Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh” (Mt 2:11).

These gifts were the most precious products of their native land; but by a secret disposition of Providence, they also represent the three eminent characteristics of the Messiah. His eternal and universal royalty is represented by gold; His divinity by frankincense; and His humanity by myrrh.

“Thou shalt not appear before Me empty” (Ex 3:15) was the Lord’s precept to the people of Israel after He had enriched them with the spoils of Egypt. He gives the same to us, whom he has enriched with the infinite merits of His blood and His death.

Thus, it is ‘a want of devotion if we adore God without offering Him something’ (St Chrysostom). At the foot of the Tabernacle, let us add to our acts of adoration the offering of a mortification or generous resolution.

The feelings which accompanied the Magi’s gifts were their chief merit. ‘Feelings of joy and generosity’ -- they offered the superb gifts with all their hearts. ‘Feelings of humility’ -- grieved not to be able to offer gifts a thousand times more precious. ‘Feelings of love and the tenderest filial devotion’ -- to the service of their King and God.

God values our gifts, not in terms of their actual worth, but based on the accompanying feelings (recall the poor widow in Lk 21:2 and Mk 12:42). With what goodwill must he have received the gifts of the holy Kings, looking on them with eyes full of love! And he is never outdone in generosity. Undoubtedly, in return he gave them infinitely more precious gifts: of grace and of final perseverance.

How consoling and encouraging are these thoughts! They bring to mind the promise of Jesus Christ -- that our smallest offerings, our most trifling good actions, even if it be but ‘a drop of cold water’ (cf Mt 24:40), in his name, will not lose their reward.

Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp24-6

On our charity, prayers and sacrifices

The Creator of all things does not need our gifts; but he wants us to be generous so that we may receive more graces and gifts from him.

We present him ‘the gold’ of our charity-- our desire to love him more, to treat others with more love. We offer ‘the frankincense’ of our prayers and good works. We give ‘the myrrh’ of our sacrifices united to the Sacrifice of the Cross as renewed in the Holy Mass.

Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 6:13

The Finding of Jesus in the Temple

“On the third day they came upon him in the temple sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. All who heard him were amazed at his intelligence.” (Lk 2:46-7)

At that time a meeting such as this had a deep significance: knowledge, wisdom, guidance of practical life in the light of the Old Testament. Such, in every age, is the task of human intelligence: to garner the wisdom of the ages, to transmit sound teaching, to firmly and humbly pursue scientific studies, for we all die and hopefully, we go to God; but mankind journeys toward the future.

Christ is never absent on the level of supernatural and natural knowledge. He is always at His place: “Only one is your teacher, the Messiah.” (Mt 23:10)

This fifth decade of the joyful mysteries is a specially beneficial invocation for all those who are called by God, because of their natural gifts or the circumstances of their lives, to the service of truth. They are all called to imitate Jesus since they have the particular task of honoring the truth, and must communicate it with pious fidelity and utmost prudence.

Ref: cf Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, p62

Jesus is our only Teacher

On beginning his public life, people “were amazed at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not like the scribes” (Mk 1:22). When they were listening to him the crowds forgot their hunger, their cold. He told his disciples, “You call me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for that is what I am” (Jn 13:13).

Jesus continuously taught-- in the Synagogues (Mt 4:23), by the lakeside (Mk 3:9), in the Temple (Mt 21:22-3), along the roads (Jn 4:5), in houses, etc. “There is much else besides that Jesus did. If all of it were put in writing, I do not think the world itself would contain the books which would have to be written.” (Jn 21:25)

Jesus always tells each one of us what we need to hear. When we read with a faithful heart the Gospel for a few minutes each day, meditating on it slowly, we feel urged to say with St Peter: “Lord, you alone have the words of eternal life” (Jn 6:68).

We must learn to hear Christ in our life, in our soul, in the different ways and circumstances in which he speaks to us. He always has something to tell us, personally. Our heart must know how to listen, attentive to the things of God: Our Teacher always; today and will be, tomorrow.

Ask above all for a heart capable of listening, and of understanding those interior motions of the Paraclete in our soul-- this language of God who speaks to us through the Magisterium of the Church; this doctrine, which comes to us so clearly through the Pope and the Bishops in union with him and which demands a practical response.

We ask Our Lady that we may be attentive to the voice of God, who speaks to us today as he did twenty centuries ago, although at times he uses intermediaries.

Ref: cf F Fernandez, op cit, 1:353-5, 358-9

Fruitfulness -- “Let us go to Jesus in the Tabernacle where we can get to know him and assimilate his teaching, and then be able to hand out this food to souls.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Forge”, 938)

Our Lady of Bessiere, in Limousin. A certain heretic, who had derided the devotion paid to this image, saw his house consumed without being able to discover whence the fire originated. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)