Awaiting the Star
Awaiting the Star
Over two thousand years ago, at the birth of Jesus, Magi from the East came to worship the Child in a grotto in Bethlehem of Judea, the place of His birth. The Magi brought gifts, fulfilling a purpose that dates back to the times of Adam.
The Gospel of Matthew recounts that the Magi came to worship Jesus because they had seen a star in the East, indicating the place of His birth:
(…) They found the child with Mary, His mother, and, falling down, they worshiped Him; and opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh” (Matthew 2:9–11).
Apocryphal records suggest that the Magi were Chaldean priests who, over millennia, had prepared for the fulfillment of a prophecy announcing the birth of a Messiah. The prophecy dates back to Adam’s time: he is said to have instructed his third son, Seth, as well as subsequent generations, to guard treasures—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—in a secure location within a cave atop a mountain, so that one day they might present these gifts to the long-awaited Messiah. Gold symbolized His kingship, frankincense represented His divine nature, and myrrh foretold His suffering. According to the “prophecy of the star,” referenced in apocryphal texts, a star or an indescribably radiant light would appear, signaling to Adam’s lineage the birth of a Divine Being:
“Know that, when this light (…), endless in its brilliance, shines upon you and appears as a star for you to see: (…) with joy, love, and care, carrying your own pure gifts, which were placed (…) on the Mountain of Victories by your ancestors, go where His light, the star, leads you.”
Apocryphal records suggest that the Magi were Chaldean priests who, over millennia, had prepared for the fulfillment of a prophecy announcing the birth of a Messiah. The prophecy dates back to Adam’s time: he is said to have instructed his third son, Seth, as well as subsequent generations, to guard treasures—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—in a secure location within a cave atop a mountain, so that one day they might present these gifts to the long-awaited Messiah. Gold symbolized His kingship, frankincense represented His divine nature, and myrrh foretold His suffering. According to the “prophecy of the star,” referenced in apocryphal texts, a star or an indescribably radiant light would appear, signaling to Adam’s lineage the birth of a Divine Being:
“Know that, when this light (…), endless in its brilliance, shines upon you and appears as a star for you to see: (…) with joy, love, and care, carrying your own pure gifts, which were placed (…) on the Mountain of Victories by your ancestors, go where His light, the star, leads you.”
Apocryphal records suggest that the Magi were Chaldean priests who, over millennia, had prepared for the fulfillment of a prophecy announcing the birth of a Messiah. The prophecy dates back to Adam’s time: he is said to have instructed his third son, Seth, as well as subsequent generations, to guard treasures—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—in a secure location within a cave atop a mountain, so that one day they might present these gifts to the long-awaited Messiah. Gold symbolized His kingship, frankincense represented His divine nature, and myrrh foretold His suffering. According to the “prophecy of the star,” referenced in apocryphal texts, a star or an indescribably radiant light would appear, signaling to Adam’s lineage the birth of a Divine Being:
“Know that, when this light (…), endless in its brilliance, shines upon you and appears as a star for you to see: (…) with joy, love, and care, carrying your own pure gifts, which were placed (…) on the Mountain of Victories by your ancestors, go where His light, the star, leads you.”
Thus, every month for thousands of years, priests are said to have visited the Mountain of Victories, where the gifts had been safeguarded by successive generations. Through visits and silent prayers, they prepared themselves for the mission once entrusted to Adam.
The Apocrypha also narrate that, before Jesus’ birth, a star of light, brighter than the sun, appeared on the Mountain of Victories, fulfilling the prophecy. It guided the Magi to Bethlehem, showing the way and protecting them from difficulties along the journey.
After a long trek across the desert, upon reaching the grotto, the Magi knelt at the Child’s feet, laid their crowns before Him, and offered the gifts in recognition of His greatness.
Thousands of years later, the anniversary of the One who divided history into “before” and “after” His arrival is celebrated around the world. His time on Earth left examples witnessed by disciples, apostles, and those who crossed His path in different circumstances and places.
The Magi, guided by the star, also bore witness to this story. A story which, with the Child’s birth in a humble grotto in Bethlehem, heralded a new era of hope for those attentive to the signs of a new light.
Sources:
Gospel of Matthew
Landau, Brent. The Lost Manuscripts of the Magi. Matriz Publishing, 2013.
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