THE THREE WISE MEN Part II

My beloved brothers and sisters,

CHRIST IS BORN! GLORIFY HIM!

THE THREE WISE MEN [Part II]

The Wise Men Enter Jerusalem

"Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem, saying.
"Where is He Who was born King of the Jews"? [Matthew 2:1-2].

The star appeared in the east at the same time of the Annunciation and led the Magi for about nine months. The Tradition of the Church never held that the star was truly A CELESTIAL STAR but that it was some INVISIBLE POWER TRANSFORMED INTO THIS APPEARANCE AND MADE VISIBLE TO MEN. Saint John Chrysostom points our in a homily that "NO NATURAL STAR COULD HAVE TRAVERSED SUCH A COURSE, NOR COULD IT HAVE SHONE SO BRILLIANTLY AT MIDDAY; AND, FURTHERMORE, IT STOOD STILL OVER THE Child."

In his Epistle to the Ephesians, Saint Ignatios the God-bearer (110 A.D.) writes: "A star shone forth in heaven above all the other stars, the light of which was inexpressible, while its novelty struck men with astonishment. And all the rest of the stars, with the sun and moon, formed a chorus to this star, and its light was EXCEEDINGLY GREAT ABOVE THEM ALL. And there was agitation felt as to whence this new spectacle came, so unlike to everything else in the heavens. Hence, every worldly wisdom became folly; conjuration was seen to be mere trifling; and magic became utterly ridiculous. Every law of wickedness vanished away; vanished away; the darkness of ignorance was dispersed; and tyrannical authority was destroyed, God being manifested as Man, and man displaying power as God. Now the former was not mere imagination; and the second did not imply a bare humanity. But the one was absolutely true, and the other an economical arrangement. And now that took a beginning which had been prepared by God. Henceforth, all things were in a state of tumult, because He meditated on the abolition of death."

Patriarch and Saint Theophylactos also agrees that what was seen by the Magi was "THE DIVINE POWER AND AN ANGELIC APPEARANCE IN THE FORM OF A STAR." Saint Leo the Great adds that this light was hidden from the Jews, but shone forth to the heathen." Also, in holy icons of the Feast of the Nativity of Christ, we see that the Star points directly to the cave. It is a long ray which connects the Star with a part of the sphere which goes beyond the limits of the icon. Here we have A SYMBOLIC REPRESENTATION OF THE HEAVENLY WORLD. Hence, this Star IS NOT MERELY A COSMIC PHENOMENON, BUT ALSO A MESSENGER FROM THE WORLD ON HIGH, BRINGING TIDINGS OF THE BIRTH OF THE "HEAVENLY One" on earth.

Herod Makes Inquiries

Entering Jerusalem, the Wise Men asked, "Where is He Who was born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east, and casme to do homage to Him." But after Herod the king heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him" [Matthew 2:3]. Why was Jerusalem troubled with him? This is because they were living in unrighteousness, and the time of censure had come. Sadly, Saint John Chrysostom comments, "See, too, how the Jewish people are troubled, though they SHOULD REJOICE THAT IT WAS A JEWISH KING"THAT WAS BORN. BUT THEY WERE TROUBLED BECAUSE THE WICKED CAN NEVER REJOICE AT THE COMING OF THE JUST. HENCE WE HAVE, "AND ALL JERUSALEM WITH HIM."

The Protoevangelium relates the following: Herod then sent messengers to the priest (rabbis) and to the Wise Men, so that he might pose inquiries to them in the public hall. Now when Herod had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where it was written concerning Christ the King and where the Christ should be born. The Jews then answered: "And thou, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, art in no wise the least among the governors of Judah; for out of thee shall come forth a Governor Who shall shepherd My people Israel" [Matthew 2:6].

Blessed Jerome chides the Jews for causing many more children’s deaths: "Here the Jews are to be reproved for ignorance, since the Prophet says, ‘And thou Bethlehem Ephratah,’ but they say, ‘Bethlehem of Judaea’ [Matthew 2:6]; thus, they greatly expanded the territory involved. Saint John Chrysostom then remarks that "MUTILATING THE PROPHECY IN THIS MANNER, THEY HAVE BECOME THE CAUSE OF THE SLAUGHTER OF THE INFANTS. For it is written: ‘out of thee shall One come forth to Me, to be a Ruler of Israel; and His goings forth were from the beginning, even from eternity,’ [Micah 5:2].

Continuing, Saint John Chrysostom says: "After Herod had received an answer, he believed it to be credible for two reasons: first, because it was spoken by the priests, and second, because it was confirmed by prophetic testimony. Herod was not inclined toward reverence for the newborn King; rather, HE WAS DISPOSED TO COMMIT THAT EVL SLAUGHTER–AND THAT BY TREACHERY. He perceived that he could not bguile the Magi by flattery, nor frighten them by threats, nor corrupt them by gold, so as to force them to consent to the death of the future King; accordingly, he planned to deceive them."

Here too, Saint John Chrysostom points out a wondrous dispensation. "The Jews and the Magi mutually teach each other. The Jews learn from the Magi that a star in the east proclaimed the Christ, and the Magi learn from the Jews that of old the prophecies have foretold Him. Thus strengthened by this twofold testimony, the Magi desired Hm with more ardent faith. [The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church]

(To be continued)

___________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in Our Incarnate Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George