When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. (Mt 2:9-10)
Scripture could not be any clearer about just how happy these magi are upon seeing the light which has pointed their way to the newborn King. Some biblical translations use the term “overjoyed,” but in this translation we hear that the magi “rejoiced exceedingly.” We already get a sense of how excited a person is when one just plain old “rejoices,” as was the case for the father whose prodigal son returned home. That father was full of joy (Lk 15:32). But the joy of the magi has surpassed that. They are not just joyful; they are overjoyed.
The thing is…this is somewhat perplexing. Yes, we understand that finding the star would have certainly elicited excitement, much like finding the clues of a treasure hunt. But to cause greater joy than that of a parent whose wayward child has returned home? What on earth could give a parent more happiness than finding their lost child? Only one thing: finding God.
My husband and I decided one year that we were going to pack up our homeschooled kids and teach their lessons down south for the month of January. Ironically, we started making our plans at the end of the previous summer, at a time of year when the kids start to become bored with the hot weather, and instead begin to look forward to sledding season. I love the warm sunshine, but even I begin to take for granted how nice the sun feels by the end of summer. We had a delightful fall, but then the days became shorter, the wind colder, the skies cloudier…and winter our area hit with a vengeance. So, when my family and I finally arrived south, the sun had never felt so warm and bright. My spirits were instantly lifted! But it wasn’t simply that the sunshine put me in a good mood; what caused rejoicing in my soul was the stark contrast between where I was before and where I was now.
See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; but upon you the LORD shines… (Is 60:2)
Whatever that Star of Bethlehem looked like, the magi are not overjoyed simply because they have found a “clue.” They are overjoyed because God himself is “shining upon” them in the midst of the darkness. They could now see.
Then you shall be radiant at what you see, your heart shall throb and overflow. (Is 60:5)
So what exactly do the magi see in that moment when they find the star and God’s light shines upon them? Let’s remember, they had been following the star preceding them the whole way; it isn’t as if they begin jumping up and down upon simply discovering the star. They do not “exceedingly rejoice” until the star stops “over the place where the child was.” So they know they have arrived at their destination, they have ascertained the place where the newborn King lay; but it seems that it is more than simply this that has stirred up that excessive joy in their hearts.
Why? Because their eyes have not actually yet seen the newborn King for themselves. For all they know, they could arrive at the end of the tracks and find…nothing. If it were me, I might have some eager anticipation at the thought of what I might find, but it would be the restrained excitement of one who doesn’t want to get one’s hopes up in case those hopes are met with disappointment. I would want to focus on detachment, so that I would be peaceful and joyful no matter what the outcome. But this is not the disposition of the magi.
The moment the star stops, they possess the over-excitement of one who sees the outcome. In other words, God’s radiant light reveals something to them beyond mere anticipation. It would seem, at that moment, that there is a knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom infused into their very souls; one which could not be obtained on their own after years of study, research, or exploration. In an instant, these magi have been given the gift of wisdom.
From that moment on, they would be known as “The Three Wise Men.” The great feast of Epiphany, for these men, then, is not just a moment of discovery. It is a moment of revelation.
You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for your benefit, namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation. (Eph 3:2-3)
May this feast of Epiphany be for us too a moment of wisdom, shining its light upon our souls and revealing to us the mysteries of the Kingdom which were previously hidden from our view in the clouds of darkness. May we strain ever forward, overjoyed to reach the goal which we not only hope for, but can now see.
Author’s Note: Excerpt from The Safe Haven: Scriptural Reflections for the Heart and Home: The Liturgical Seasons of Advent and Christmas. To purchase, visit Amazon or The Catholic Company, where all other volumes currently in print are also available.
Photo by Inbal Malca on Unsplash
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