My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS BORN! GLORIFY HIM!
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A NARRATIVE OF THE ADORATION (WORSHIP) OF THE MAGI
"When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the East" (Matthew, Ch.2), not just from one eastern country, but (as a probable) from several, as we may conclude from the various statements made by the Holy Fathers about this. Some (including Saints John Chrysostom, Cyril of Alexandria, and Theophylact) say that the Magi were from Persia, where the study of astrology especially flourished and no one could become a king unless he was educated in star-lore. Others, such as the holy Martyr Justin, Saint Cyprian, and Saint Epiphanius say that the wise men were from Arabia, which abounds in gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Still, others hold Ethiopia to have been their homeland.
The Wise Men are called Magi (Gk. Μάγοι) not because they engaged in demonic divination and sorcery, but because the Arabians, Syrians, Persians, Ethiopians, and other peoples of the East called their philosophers and astronomers by this name. Although these scholars bore the same title as the augurs and wizards of the Orient, they had nothing else in common with them. The Wise Men were also called kings, though they were not sovereigns of nations, only princes each charged with the administration of a single city. It is customary for the rulers of cities to be called kings in Scripture, as is evident from the 14th Chapter of Genesis. No one knows which cities the Wise Men ruled; we can, however, be certain that the Magi were three in number, like their gifts, and that they were from the East. Though they set out from different locations, they were guided by a single star. Providence caused them to meet one another, and after discussing the reason they were traveling, they continued their journey together, still following the celestial light foretold by the renowned stargazer of ancient times, Balaam, who said, "A star shall rise out of Jacob, a man shall spring out of Israel" (Numbers, Ch. 24). And what sort of star was this? Saint John Chrysostom and Theophylact affirm that it was not an ordinary star, like those we see every night, but "a divine and angelic power that appeared in the form of a star" (The Explanation of Saint Matthew).
The flight to Egypt took place shortly after the fortieth day following the Nativity, when the rites of cleansing required of the Law were performed in the Temple. When these were completed, Joseph assembled everything necessary for the journey, and without tarrying at his home in Nazareth, left for Egypt.
It is a universally accepted tradition of the Church that the Magi adored the Savior in Bethlehem, while He was still in the cave, but at the age of two Christ was no longer in Bethlehem, nor anywhere in Palestine, but in Egypt. Saint Luke the Evangelist makes it clear that following the cleansing in the Temple on the Fortieth Day when the elder Symeon met Jesus and all things were accomplished "according to the Law," (Luke, ch.2), Saint Joseph, the Most Pure Virgin Mary, and the Child returned at once, not to Bethlehem in Judea, but to their own city, Nazareth in Galilee. Thence they departed to Egypt, in obedience to the Angel's command.
Entering the capital city of Jerusalem, the Magi asked, "Where is He that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and are come to worship Him" (Matthew, Ch. 2). Their question amazed the people and troubled Herod and his court. Summoning the high priests and elders, the ruler inquired where Christ would be born, for he was afraid he would lose his kingdom and intended to murder the newborn Lord. No sooner had he learned that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem of Judea than he ordered the Magi brought to him and "inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared." Meditating evil in his heart, his lips mouthing deceit, he told them, "Go and search for the young Child, and when ye have found Him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship Him also."
After the Magi left Jerusalem, the star reappeared, leading them to the cave in Bethlehem and filling them with joy. There it stopped and descended near the earth, "over where the young Child was." If it had not come down, it would have been impossible to tell just where the newborn king lay...The star could not have pointed out where Christ was, had it not descended and stood directly over Him." And so this miracle also demonstrates that the celestial light that guided the Magi was no ordinary star, but a manifestation of divine energy.
Seeing the Lord in the cave, the Wise Men saluted Hi as King and worshipped Him as God. Both Saint Irenaeus and Pope Leo attested that the Magi were mystically illumined by the Lord's grace when they saw the Child, understood that He was Divine, and believed in Him. They prostrated themselves before their King and God, offering Him the adoration due to the Divinity. (Source: The Great Collection of The Lives of the Saints)
(To be continued)
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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" - Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+Father George