Fr. JC Maximilian

["The Epiphany," by Giotto di Bondone 1320-25, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York]

We used to call them the Three Kings, although now they are more properly referred to as the Magi or Wise Men.  However, today is still a celebration of a King.  God is a King.  The Savior he sends us, Jesus Christ, the Son of God made man, comes not to philosophize, but to rule.  King Herod trembled because he knew this, where as the Magi rejoiced because they knew this.

Jesus teaches us an important, precious truth about ourselves even before He can speak:  in our hearts there are two potential ways of responding to the coming of Christ the King – either way of Herod or the way of the Magi.

King Herod had spent his life murdering, exhorting, and building up his own personal kingdom, ruled by his own whims for his own personal glory.  When the Christ is born, a King with authority on high, Herod immediately feels threatened.  In Herod’s way of thinking, if Jesus is not destroyed or discredited than all that he has spent his life building will be swept away.

The Magi have a completely different reaction to the birth of Christ.  They were the scientists of that age.  They had spent their lives studying all of creation, and through their study of nature they came to realize that there was a Supreme Creator and King, and with humility they searched for signs of Him.  When they see the signs that the Savior has been born they rejoice.  Instead of hoarding and protecting their treasures, the fruits of their life’s labors, they generously offer them to Christ as gestures of honor, respect, and allegiance.

Whenever Christ enters our lives, which he does every day through the voice of conscience, the teachings of his Church, and the designs of Providence, we must choose in whose steps we will follow, Herod’s or the Magi’s.  Will we tremble, afraid of what Jesus may demand of us?  Or will we rejoice, glad to have such a glorious Lord to follow?

Often, when we feel tempted to respond like Herod, it is because we have started to doubt in God’s goodness.  It is easy to do.  We see the hardships and injustices of the world, and we might think, “How could God really be all good, all wise, and all powerful if He lets these things to happen?”  However, that is a very self-centered way of looking a suffering.  In the first place, it ignores all the wonderful and good things that exist and happen in the world.  In the second place, it ignores the good that God can and does bring out of suffering.

How many of you have heard of Annie Johnson Flint?  That’s OK, I had never head of her until the other day either.  She was born in nearby Vineland, NJ in 1866 on Christmas Eve.  She was born an orphan.  She lived with crippling arthritis for 40 years, and then she was stricken with cancer.  Despite all the suffering she experienced in her life, she wrote nearly 6000 Christian poems and hymns, most of which dealt with finding hope in the midst of suffering.  Her writing has inspired and strengthened thousands, if not millions, of suffering people.  In one of her hymns she wrote:

He giveth more grace as the burdens grow greater;
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials His multiplied peace.

When we suffer, it proves that we are not God, that we are not in complete control of our lives and the world; suffering exposes our limitations, and opens our hearts to God’s grace.  That opens the door to humility, the virtue that Herod lacked, and the virtue that the Wise Men had.  Humility and wisdom always go together, and they produce patience, compassion, and interior joy.  Suffering, when we live it with Christ, can bring those lasting treasures into our hands, because it forces us to let go of false, self-centered illusions.

What part of our lives is still resisting the Kingship of Christ?

Maybe it is our goals?  Maybe we are still thinking that our achievements will bring everlasting happiness in our lives.  They won’t; only the achievement of Jesus, namely His passion, death and resurrection will bring us eternal happiness.  The only achievement that will last is that of fulfilling His will, following His example and His teachings.  The gold medals which we treasure so much in our lives, we need to turn into the gold that the Magi left at the feet of Jesus.

Maybe it is the affections of our heart?  Maybe we are looking for that perfect romantic relationship, believing that it will bring true meaning to our lives.  It won’t.  Without Christ Jesus, there is no such thing as a perfect relationship.  Jesus is the one who gives every relationship its lasting beauty and joy.  We need to strive to please Him first, and then He will make our relationships pleasing beyond our wildest dreams.  We need to lay the affections of our heart at Jesus’ feet, just as the Magi offered our Lord the sweet smell of their frankincense.

Maybe it’s our sufferings?  Maybe we are still angry at God for the hurt we have experienced in life.  But if He has permitted it, it’s only because He knows He can transform it.
We need to stop rebelling against our King and loving Lord and lay our sufferings at His feet – just as the Magi offered him their myrrh, the spicy ointment used to embalm bodies for burial.

Jesus wants to be our King, so that we can enjoy the adventure of living in and fighting for His Kingdom.  Let’s let Him.