The Six Wise Persons Gather for the Feast of the Three Wise Men

As temperature was plummeting toward -27C on the eve of Epiphany, our prayer and bible study group still held a Sunday evening meeting as scheduled. 

A polar vortex, a massive polar low pressure frigid air cyclone, was fast approaching the Midwest region of the United States on that evening.  We already had more than a foot of snow by that evening. So, it was challenging to come to the meeting.  Because of that situation, I was not sure if anyone would ever show up.

But, 6 members showed up, in spite of difficult weather condition – frigid temperature, icy road and snow!  Surely, their love to be with and serve the Lord overrode whatever that could have kept them in cozy homes. 

As the meeting touched upon Epiphany, especially in the part of the scripture study, I could not help but juxtapose those 6 members who came with the three wise men (the magi) (Matthew 2:1-12). 

In concluding the Christmastide, we commemorate that the three wise men from the Orient  finally arrived at the house where the newborn King – Jesus –was and presented gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  The Western tradition holds that these three were Melchior, Casper, and Balthazar – though the Matthew’s Gospel narrative does not name. 

Biblical and theological discussion on the names of the magi aside, in place of Melchior, Casper, and Balthazar, our group had Eugene, Reggie, John, Marciano, Susan, and myself.   

From a pastoral perspective, what is more important than discussing nitty-gritty theological stuff about the biblical text is how we discern meaning of Epiphany – how we draw personal meaning from the biblical narrative on Epiphany – the magi from the east finding the baby Jesus and overjoying. 

As I was also leading the group that evening, besides teaching the scriptures,  I emphasized that “the 6 wise persons” present at that evening’s meeting can reflect their commitment to the Lord, strong enough to overcome adversarial weather condition,  in light of the magi’s determination to find the newborn King, Jesus, God incarnate, that endured them to complete their mission in spite of a long challenging journey through mountains and marshlands (moors), besides arid desert.  

In this reflection, I also suggested “the six wise persons” to think of what gift they are to bring to the Lord we love and serve this year, making it our new year’s resolutions.  

What gifts are we to offer to the Lord Jesus Christ in our service to him this year?  Gold, frankincense, and myrrh were what the magi offered. Now, what are we going to bring?

For this reflection, it is important that we get to know ourselves in light of our relationship with the Lord. Namely, this reflective exercise requires a critical self-reflection in faith. 

From a pastoral psychological perspective, what helps this reflection is understanding ourselves not only from a developmental  psychological perspective but also from an anthropocentric theological perspective.  The anthropocentric theological perspective is a theological perspective based on Genesis 1:27: we are created in an image and light of God. Therefore, the direction of our growth is the fullness in the mystery of Christ, who is God incarnate.  

With this perspective in mind, we can explore within ourselves in terms of our unique abilities and potentials, in light of gifts and talent that the creator God have bestowed upon us, in addition to external gifts – grace. 

We are called not only to discover our own unique gifts, talents, abilities, and potentials, but also to cultivate and utilize them for the sake of our mission for the Lord, partaking in God’s evolving salvific plan. 

Of course, we also need to consider the importance of the Holy Spirit in this reflective exercise, because the Holy Spirit is the power (Acts 1:8) that drives our mission.  This is also true to Jesus himself, as there was the Holy Spirit present, when Jesus was baptized, marking the beginning of his public ministry (Matthew 3:16).  And, the Holy Spirit is always present with the Sacrament of Baptism,  because it is indispensable in appointing and commissioning. 

“The Six Wise Persons”, who attended the cold snowy Sunday evening meeting, are all baptized. And, they are renewing their baptismal commitment, by tapping into the gifts that they can offer in their service to the Lord. 

While engaging in self-reflective and introspective exercise, we also recognize and appreciate the presence of the Holy Spirit to empower us and God’s grace to turn our gifts into wonderful fruits.

For this, it is also important that we look into the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4-11), as well as the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). 

Another important thing to reflect is what is our guiding star as we go on our mission. The magi faithfully follow the guiding star to find and pay homage to baby Jesus - to complete their mission.  What is our guiding star - so that we will not go astray or drop out of our mission ?

As we move from this Epiphany week into the feast of the Baptism of the Lord this coming Sunday, let us be like the magi – three wise men, who endured challenging mission trip, not only to find and adore the King of all kings, the Messiah, but also to served him with gifts. For this, let us explore within ourselves and discover more of our unique gifts so that we can offer them in our service to the Lord, empowered and guided by the Holy Spirit, supported by grace, and fueled by the Eucharist, renewing our baptismal commitment.