You may have heard about the three 6-year-olds who played the Magi in their church religious education program. As they each came up to Mary and Joseph in the stable, they were to call out the name of their kingly gift, and lay it down before the child.

The first one handed over his gift, and said, “Gold!”

The second one presented his gift and said, “Myrrh!”

The third one gave them his treasure and said, “And Frank sent this!”

The feast of the Epiphany is the showing of Christ to the world through the journey of the Magi and their gifts. There has been no value estimation regarding the gifts of the Magi. They seem to appear out of nowhere. Folklore has given them ethnic backgrounds and names. Then they disappear out of history.

According to tradition, they represent people from all over the world coming to find Jesus. They came to find God. You might say that the Epiphany is a feast of global awareness that salvation has come to the whole world.

The GPS for the magi is not an “On-Star.” They read a map of stars in the heavens and followed the star which led them to Herod.

It was there that the Magi heard the Scriptures. King Herod and his wise men interpreted the Scriptures for the Magi.

Even though they possessed the Scriptures, they themselves did not follow them, they did not walk in their light. They were not ready to walk in the light of the truth.

Herod was afraid of losing his power to the new-born king and in that fear, he made an empty promise: “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 find Jesus, prostrate in homage, and return home, literally and inwardly, in a different way.
In another Christmas pageant, the little girl who had played the part of Mary, came up to her religious ed teacher, held up the doll that had been the baby Jesus and asked, “So, what am I supposed to do with this baby now?”

The first thing to do is acknowledge that Jesus did not remain a baby. Jesus grew in age, grace and wisdom. The Scriptures tell the whole story. You either love him or hate him.

The second thing to do is acknowledge that Jesus is a threat to the established order. Until the Kingdom of God is established in this world, Jesus will always be a threat to the status quo; Herod feared him and the truth.

The third thing to do is to remember that the star still shines; the light of faith calls us to a better world through the gift of God’s only Son.