Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/463

 The  Feast  of  the  Three  Magi, or  the  Feast  of  the  Epiphany (Jan. 6th). The three  wise  men  were  the  first  Gentiles  to  whom  our Lord manifested  Himself  as  the  Saviour  of  mankind;  and  as  the representatives of  the  pagan  world,  which  was  sighing  for  its  Redeemer, they offered  their  adoration  to  Him. We ought  therefore,  especially  on this  Feast,  to  thank  God  for  the  Christian  faith,  because  our  forefathers too were  pagans;  and  we  ought  to  praise  the  infinite  love  of  God,  who gave His  only-begotten  Son  for  the  salvation  of  man.

The signification  of  the  gifts  of  the  wise  men. The  gifts  offered  to the  Child  Jesus  by  the  wise  men  are  full  of  deep  significance. “In Israel incense could  be  offered  to  God  alone,  and  could  be  burnt  only  before Jehovah! Any human  king  of  Israel  to  whom  incense  was  offered  was an abomination  in  the  sight  of  God”  (Grimm). So by  offering  incense to the  Child  Jesus  the  Magi  wished  to  express  their  worship  of  God hidden under  the  lowly  form  of  a child. By the  offering  of  gold  they acknowledged Him  as  king. By the  myrrh  they  desired  to  testify  their veneration for  the  human  nature  of  Jesus,  which  was  destined  to suffering,  death  and  burial. They therefore  offered  gold  to  the  king, incense to  God,  and  myrrh  to  the  man.

Worship of  the  Blessed  Sacrament. It  is  the  same  Son  of  God  whom the wise  men  worshipped  under  the  form  of  a child,  whom  we,  full  of faith  and  reverence,  worship  in  the  most  holy  Sacrament  of  the  Altar.

APPLICATION. You have  received  so  many  and  such  great graces from  God. Have you  always  faithfully  corresponded  to them? Have you  never  actually  resisted  God’s  grace? “We exhort you  that  you  receive  not  the  grace  of  God  in  vain!” (2 Cor.  6,  1.)

You too  can  offer  gifts  to  our  Lord  Jesus: the  gold  of  love, the incense  of  worship,  and  the  myrrh  of  patience  in  suffering.

EROD awaited  with  anxiety  the  return  of  the  Magi. At last, perceiving  that  he  waited  in  vain,  he  became  furious, and gave  orders  that  all  the  male  children  of  two  years  old  and under, in  Bethlehem  and  in  all  the  confines  thereof,  should  be  slain.