From Father Grassi - January 7, 2007
The Magi may have been “wise men”but they were far from perfect. First of all, they take off on a journey neither knowing where they are going nor just what they are going to find when they get there. Because of their uncertainty, they are the last ones to arrive at the manger. They are late. They miss the choir of angels. They bring very extravagant gifts which prove to be very impractical as well, more stuff for the Holy Family to carry with them to Egypt. A soft blanket, another donkey, maybe a nice wicker baby carrier would have been more appropriate and appreciated. For some inexplicable reason, they decide to visit Herod, tell him everything, and freak him out, which leads to the slaughter of the innocent babes by the paranoid king. Then, once they leave, we never hear from the Magi again in scripture. Clearly they are the stuff of legends and not scientific history. Still, we honor them for the courage to make the journey they did to find the new born Messiah. Our own lives’ journey will hopefully lead us to the Lord. Like the Magi, there is a good chance we have fallen a little behind schedule being delayed and detoured by all the minutia that fills our daily comings and goings and slows us down. Much of what we bring to God and offer to God is far from adequate considering all the blessings that God has freely chosen to share with us. And, sadly, either by action or omission, we allow awful violence to fell our world with pain and hopelessness. Yet, despite all this, our journey, like the Magi’s, as we continue in life, we must make it our life’s work to share the Messiah’s presence with others every opportunity that is given to us.
DJG
Filed under: From Fr. Grassi
