The Magi

                                                                                                          

     The 6th of January comes the day AFTER the 12th Day of Christmas.  This is celebrated by western Christians who use a structured calendar as the coming of the Magi or Wise Men.  There is recognition that Jesus may have been up to 2 years old when the Wise Men came, since evil King Herod sought to kill all the baby boys in Bethlehem up to that age.  Also, the account refers to Jesus as a "child" (though that culture, like ours, sometimes called babies "children"), and the family was in a "house."

     This day on the church calendar is called "Epiphany", which means a "shining forth."  Obviously, that refers in one sense to the star which shone forth.  It also refers to Christ's divinity, His "God-ness", shining forth.  These mysterious visitors from the east took the message of this new King far outside the region of Bethlehem.  Epiphany is a whole season where the Bible readings in church refer to ways His divinity shone forth, though He often kept it to Himself.  

     Who were these mysterious visitors from the East?  The term "Magi" may give us some clues as to who these men were.  "Magi" is a close rendering of the Greek term for the Wise Men in Matthew chapter 2. In Greek, the singular is "magos", and the plural is "magoi."  The word derives from the Old Persian word "magus."  

     According to some sources, the term entered the English language via Latin around AD 1200.  In English usage, the term seems have shown up in literature prior to being used in an English translation.  Some relatively modern literature includes T.S. Elliot's poem "The Journey of the Magi" and O. Henry's short story "The Gifts of the Magi" [which is not about the Wise Men at all].  There are links to both below.   The rare English usage in a Biblical translation is the New International Version, but only to describe the Wise Men in Matthew Chapter 2, not in other usages where "magos" appears in original Biblical languages.  

     The term magus first emerged as a tribe of the Median people.  The Medes were close relatives of the Persians and banded with them to form the empire which conquered Babylon and continued overlordship of the Jews for about two-hundred years (539-334 BC).  The Magi conducted sacrificial duties and delved into the occult, that is, "otherworldly" supposed special knowledge that falls outside whatever the practitioner's mainstream religion is. Magi came to generally be seen as keepers of all kinds of special knowledge. This includes astronomy/astrology and the medicine of the day. 

     The early Median Magi were pictured as tall, wearing flowing robes and tall, conical hats.  (As Nativity sets were developed in medieval Europe, the Wise Men were still pictured as tall and thin, adding to their sense of mystery.)  They wore white robes.   

     The Greek historian Herodotus wrote that the term was used, generally, by the aristocrats of the Median people.   If so, it seems the usage had expanded some.  These were considered men who could interpret dreams.  Internal strife between the Medes and the Persian emperors led to the Magi's status being reduced. 

     At one time in its usage, it specifically referred to Zoroastrian priests.  (Zoroatsrianism is a Persian religion that has somewhat mysterious origins and is named for its founder, Zoroaster.  When, exactly, it began is unclear, but it was on the horizon during the Jews' exile in Babylon, which was conquered by Persia.)   By New Testament times, the mystery religion Mithraism had arisen in Rome. Though dedicated to the Greco-Roman god Mithras, the god's original name and many of the practices were derived from Zoroastrianism.  It appears that occultic priest-astronomers connected with this religion were called "Magi."

     In Greek, the word began to morph into the concept of "magician", as we know it. This usage entered Latin, also.  Early Church Fathers, including Justin, Origen, Augustine and Jerome translated "magos" as "magician", not distinguishing the Wise Men from others referred to by this term.  The same term is used for Simon the Magician and Elymas the Sorcerer in Acts chapters 8 and 13.

     Jeremiah chapter 39 refers to Nergal-Sharezar as the "rab mag" ("chief magus"), blending Hebrew with an alliteration of Persian. Some believe that Daniel held a similar title.  However, Daniel seems hesitant to have written of himself using this term, either to keep from offending those magi who were Median or to emphasize his Jewishness and identity as a worshipper of Yahweh.  In any case, those jealous of Daniel were referred to as satraps, not as magi. 

     Matthew chapter 2 discusses the Magi studying the stars. This led early English translator John Wycliffe to translate the word as "astrologers."  At that time, there was no distinction between the concepts of "astrologer" and "astronomer."  Up through the Protestant Reformation, Christians considered that God might be speaking to them through astronomical events and did not necessarily consider "astrology" to be witchcraft nor the occult. 

     Legends grew about the Wise Men.  They were often referred to as "The Three Kings" and assigned names and ages.  They were most certainly not kings.  And we don't know how many there were: only that there were three gifts.   There were at least two because the plural term is used.  At the height of trying to make the Wise Men represent all people, they were said in some legends to be exactly 60, 40 and 20 years old, with one being Caucasian, one Black, and one Asian.

      They were given various names, also.  The most common names circulating in European traditions, were Caspar (or "Gaspar" from the Persian "Jasper", a precious stone), Melchior, and Balthazar, who is most commonly considered the Ethiopian, or Black, Wise Man.  Ethiopian Christians named them Karsudan, Hor, and Basanater.  Syrian Christians named them Larvandad, Homisdas, and Gushnasaph. 

     Speculation began that each of the three gifts was highly symbolic. This symbolism is spelled out in the carol "We Three Kings of Orient Are" (also linked below).  Gold is said to honor a king.  Incense (or frankincense) is said to be honoring the Baby Jesus' divinity, since incense is used in Temple worship (not just in the ancient Jewish faith and some forms of Christianity, but in all kinds of religions).  Myrrh was an ancient spice often used in the burial of bodies; therefore, this was said to note the eventual sufferings and death of the Christ.  While Jesus was offered wine mixed with myrrh at His crucifixion and buried with a mixture that included myrrh, this expensive item was also used among the living.  Myrrh was used in perfumes, anointing oils and medicines.  At any rate, some of these costly items may have been sold or exchanged to pay for the journey into Egypt, made necessary by mad King Herod's wish to destroy Jesus, and the subsequent resettling in Nazareth.  Jesus, as an adult, certainly identified Himself as having no real worldly possessions. 

     The Bible does not mention the camels often pictured in nativity scenes. This idea likely comes from the Old Testament prophecy from Isaiah 60, thought to refer to the Wise Men.  The presence of camels make sense, though, with them being common pack and travel animals in the Middle East of Jesus's day.  

     The Wise Men don't always seem so "wise."  Why did they blunder right into Herod's domain, asking openly about the new King of the Jews?  Herod the Great was a massively jealous, psychopathic man (something known to history.)

     After visiting the Holy Family, the Magi disappear from legitimate history. Old legends spun stories that Thomas, who was the apostle to India, met up with the Wise Men on his travels East.  [The idea that Thomas was an apostle to India may not be fictitious of itself, though; there are also very old stories in India that he established the first Christian churches there, those in existence long before the British colonized.)  Lew Wallace wove their story into Ben-Hur.  Another fictional story invents a fourth Wise Man.  It's quite possible, though, that they had passed away before Jesus started His earthly ministry. 

• Magi: very technical explanation from BibleGateway's Encyclopedia of the Bible
• Maier, Paul L.  First Christmas:  The True and Unfamiliar Story.  (Harper & Row, 1971; Pp. 64-68)
• New World Encyclopedia Online
• The Christmas Star
• O. Henry: "The Gift of the Magi"
• T.S. Elliot: "Journey of the Magi"
• We Three Kings

All Things Bright & Beautiful

 

Refrain: 

All things bright and beautiful,  

 All creatures great and small, 

All things wise and wonderful, 

The Lord God made them all. 

Each little flow'r that opens,

Each little bird that sings, 

He made their glowing colors, 

He made their tiny wings. [Refrain]  

The purple-headed mountain 

The river running by,

The sunset and the morning 

That brightens up the sky. [Refrain]  

The cold wind in the winter, 

The pleasant summer sun, 

The ripe fruits in the garden: 

He made them every one. [Refrain] 

He gave us eyes to see them, 

And lips that we might tell 

How great is God Almighty, 

Who has made all things well. [Refrain]

-Cecil Frances Alexander, 1848 [female]

Cecil Frances Alexander

Poetry in Motion

 

       Squirrel monkeys move with energy (and seeming joy) through life.  Full-grown monkeys are small enough; the babies are really tiny.  These creatures are my favorite zoo animal, capturing my attention even more than the big, grand and striking animals.  (Generally, I like most zoo exhibits.)  

       These photos are from the Wildlife World Zoo in Phoenix, AZ and the Frank Buck Zoo in Gainesville, TX.  Both of these are private zoos. These seem to more commonly house squirrel monkeys in modern times; it seems the bigger, public zoos often don't bother with these charming little creatures, which are native to the tropical forests of Cental and South America.

       What must things have been like, interacting with monkeys in the Garden of Eden?  What will our interactions with animals be like in heaven? 

Squirrel Monkeys: Oakland Zoo

Lamb of God

 "Look, the Lamb of God,

Who takes away the sin of the world!"  

      (John 1:29b, 36b)

So said John the Baptist,

The voice of one who calls out. (Isaiah 40:3)

He is the Lamb of God,

Not the Ram of God.

"Your Lamb must be unblemished,

A one-year-old male..."  

     (Exodus 12:5a; Leviticus l4:10; Ezekiel 46:13)

Most things are cleaned with blood:

Without the shedding of blood,

There is no forgiveness.  (Hebrews 9:22)

Make One still young the offering,

The last of such bloody suffering; (Daniel 9:27)

Yet His soul shall rise to see

The spiritual children He brought to be.  (Isaiah 53:10)

The Ancient Lamb not very old;

With blood worth more than even gold:

It sets the human captives free

From sin's eternal misery.  (I Peter 1:19; Exodus, etc)

How much more will the Blood of Christ,--

He who offered Himself to God

Through the Eternal Spirit

As an unblemished sacrifice--

Cleanse our consciences from dead works

To serve the Living God?  (Hebrews 9:14)

As a lamb to the slaughter He was led;

And as a sheep before her shearers is silent,

So He did not open His mouth.  (Isaiah 53:7b)

"And I, 

If I be lifted up from the earth,

I will draw all people to myself."  (John 12:32) 

So taught the Lamb

Before His time had come.

"The Son of Man 

Must suffer many things.

He must be killed,

And on the third day raised to life."

  (Luke 9:21, 43, 18:31; Mark 9:32; Matthew 17:23)

Myriads of myriads, 

Thousands of thousands,

Angels and elders 

All saying with a loud voice,

"Worthy is the Lamb,

Who was slaughtered,

To receive power and wealth and wisdom

And might and honor and glory and blessing!"  

     (Revelation 5:12)  

For the Lamb,

The One in the center of the throne,

Will shepherd them.

And He will lead them 

To Living Fountains of Waters.  (Revelation 7:17a)

                 --translations & short verse c.m.b. (c) 2024

The Months

 
January brings the snow,

Makes our feet and fingers glow.

February brings the rain*,

Thaws the frozen lake again.

March brings breezes large and shrill,

Stirs the dancing daffodil.

April brings the primrose sweet,

Scatters daisies at our feet.

May brings flocks of pretty lambs,

Skipping by their fleecy damns.

June brings tulips, lilies, roses,

Fills the children's hands with posies.

Hot July brings cooling showers,

Apricots and gillyflowers**.

August brings the sheaves of corn***,

Then the harvest home is borne.

Warm September brings the fruit,

Sportsmen then begin to shoot.

Fresh October brings the pheasants,

Then to gather nuts is pleasant.

Dull November brings the blast,

Then the leaves are whirling fast.

Chill December brings the sleet*,

Blazing fire and Christmas treat. 

     ---Sara Coleridge (1802-1852)

     English writer Sara Coleridge is most known as the only daughter of Samuel Taylor Coleridge and an editor of his work, particularly after her father and her husband died.  However, she was an author and translator in her own right.

     In the 21st century, a discovery of over 100 of her unpublished poems was made.  A lecturer at University College, London, Dr. Swaab, discovered them in the Coleridge manuscripts and published them in 2007.

*Many places in the northern hemisphere will still snow in December & February. The British Isles, being smallish and surrounded by water, do not always have the conditions for snow.

**Gillyflowers:  most often, another term for "carnations", though the term may be applied to other flowers,

***Corn: old-school, Old World, meant "wheat" (whereas New World "corn" was called some variant of "maize.")

****Though this poem is not overtly religious, Sara was.  She opposed the Oxford Movement (Tractarian Movement), in the 1840s.  The movement led to an Anglican Church that was more "high church" or more similar to Roman Catholicism, as opposed to other protestant ideas present in England.  [Gerard Manly Hopkins, whose work is featured elsewhere in this blog, did approve of the Tractarian Movement.  Eventually he went so far as to formally become Roman Catholic.]

Here Between Ass & Oxen Mild

 

1. Here between ass and oxen* mild,

Sleep, sleep, sleep my little Child.

Thousand seraphim,

Thousand cherubim

Keeping watch above 

This Mighty God of Love. 

 

 

2.  Here within Mary's sweet embrace

Sleeps, sleeps, sleeps this Fruit of Grace. 

Thousand seraphim,

Thousand cherubim

Keeping watch above 

This Mighty God of Love.  

 

3. Here between rose and lily sweet**

Sleep, sleep, sleep, my Son petite.

Thousand seraphim,

Thousand cherubim

Keeping watch above 

This Mighty God of Love.

 

4.  Here between the shepherds wondering

Sleep, sleep, Jesus, newborn King.

Thousand seraphim,

Thousand cherubim

Keeping watch above 

This Mighty God of Love.  

 

  

5.  On this holy day which God chose well

Sleeps, sleeps, sleeps Emmanuel.

Thousand seraphim,

Thousand cherubim

Keeping watch above 

This Mighty God of Love.  

 

-- developed from the 13th century French carol, “Entre le bœuf et l’âne gris” ["Between the Ox & Grey Donkey"]; this version (c) C. Marie Byars, 2023

 

*The "ox and ass" portrayals go beyond assuming what might be in a stable. Medieval Roman Catholic churchmen and songwriters were adding their interpretation of Isaiah 1:3-- "The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s feed trough [manger, crib], but Israel does not know; My people do not understand."

 

 A donkey may or may not have conveyed the pregnant Mary to Bethlehem. The Bible doesn't say.  An otherwise hale and hearty Mary may have walked the 90 mile journey.

 

What Child Is This   Also features ox and donkey.  

 

**The lily was a symbol of the Virgin Mary's purity.  (Though not used for old Christmas symbolism, it's a nice way to remember the story of Good Friday & Easter were already embedded into the Christmas account.)   The rose has variously been a symbol of Mary and of Jesus.  For both, it is a symbol of purity.  When used as a symbol of Jesus, it hearkens back to then Old Testament Rose of Sharon (which was actually a crocus in Hebrew, a small, early spring bulb flower!).  The Rose of Sharon was the one who pursued His beloved in the Song of Solomon.  

 

(There are various myths about winter roses and Mary's searching and struggles, also, which cropped up over the centuries.)

 

The Nativity in the photos is our own.  It is a composite of a couple different Italian sets.   We wait until closer to Epiphany (January 6) to put out the Wise Men.

What Child Is This*

 

1. What Child is this, who, laid to rest,

In Mary's lap is sleeping?

Whom angels greet with anthems sweet

While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King

Whom shepherd guard and angels sing.

Haste, haste to bring Him laud,

The Babe, the Son of Mary.

2.  Why lies He in such mean estate,

Where ox and ass are feeding?**

Good Christian, fear, for sinners here

The silent Word is pleading. 

Nails, spears shall pierce Him through,

The cross be borne for me, for you.

Hail, hail, the Word made Flesh,

The Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh***

Come, peasant, king*** to own Him.

The King of Kings salvation brings,

Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

Raise, raise the song on high,

The virgin sings her lullaby.

Joy, joy, for Christ is born,

The Babe, the Son of Mary.

--William Chatterton Dix, 1865

*usually sung to the English folk tune "Greensleeves"

**It's not known for sure what animals were present at Jesus' birth.  The Luke 2 account says He was laid in a manger, so people assume He was born in a stable where other animals were present.  Some people feel Mary rode a donkey down from Bethlehem to Nazareth, though the Bible doesn't say this either.  Still, these animals make it into much of the religious art and into Nativity scenes.  

***It seems the Magi (sometimes called "Wise Men") came later. They have sometimes been referred to as "kings", though they were not really rulers.  [Psalm 72 has similar thoughts and refers to "kings", though.]  This, as Christ's birth itself, shows the low & high of society worshipping HIm. 

To a Beautiful Child*

 

...thy book

Is cliff, and wood, and foaming waterfall;

Thy playmates-- the wild sheep and birds that call

Hoarse to the storm; -- thy sport is with the storm

To wrestle; -- and thy piety to stand

Musing on things create, and their Creator's hand.

 --Manley Hopkins (father of poet Gerard Manley Hopkins, S.J.), c. 1875

Valentine's Day is for more than "couples' love."  In fact, the legends of the original Saints Valentine (there were up to three men possibly) were about sacrificial, spiritual love. This is a good time to reflect on other types of love.

Before the Paling of the Stars

 

Before the paling of the stars,
Before the winter morn,
Before the earliest cock crow,
Jesus Christ was born:
Born in a stable,
Cradled in a manger,
In the world his hands had made
Born a stranger.

Priest and king lay fast asleep
In Jerusalem;
Young and old lay fast asleep
In crowded Bethlehem;
Saint and angel, ox and ass**,
Kept a watch together
Before the Christmas daybreak
In the winter weather.

Jesus on his mother’s breast
In the stable cold,
Spotless lamb of God was He,
Shepherd of the fold:
Let us kneel with Mary maid,
With Joseph laudatory*,
With saint and angel, ox and ass**,
To hail the King of Glory.
--Christina Rosetti, 1912

*In the original poem, "bent and hoary", with the idea that Joseph was older, and this was his second marriage, coming out of traditions not in the Bible that Mary was always a Virgin and never had biological children. Christians who hold this view, namely Roman Catholics and some Anglicans, interpret New Testament references of Jesus' brothers and sisters as being half-siblings from a possible 1st marriage of Joseph.  There is no actual Biblical data to support this.  Rosetti was a "High Church Anglican"

** Ox & Ass--  see the notes on this Christmas poem:  Here Between Ass & Oxen Mild  

[Joy & Peace in Believing]

(from the Olney Hymns)

Sometimes a light surprises
     The Christian while he sings;
It is the Lord who rises
     With healing on His wings;*
When comforts are declining,
     He grants the soul again
A season of clear shining,
     To cheer it after rain.

In holy contemplation
     We sweetly then pursue
The theme of God's salvation,
     And find it ever new;
Set free from present sorrow,
     We cheerfully can say,
E'en let the unknown to-morrow
     Bring with it what it may!

It can bring with it nothing,
     But He will bear us through;
Who gives the lilies clothing,**
     Will clothe His people too;
Beneath the spreading heavens
     No creature but is fed;
And He who feeds the ravens
     Will give His children bread.

Though vine nor fig tree neither***
     Their wonted fruit shall bear,
Though all the field should wither,
     Nor flocks nor herds be there:
Yet God the same abiding,
     His praise shall tune my voice;
For, while in Him confiding,
     I cannot but rejoice.

 --William Cowper [pronounced "Cooper"], 1779; part of Olney 

hymns, written alongside his friend, John Newton, author of 

"Amazing Grace" 

*Malchi 4:2--  the Sun of Righteousness [Christ] will rise with 

healing  in His wings. This idea is also found in a verse of "Hark 

the Herald Angels Sing"

**Matthew 6 & Luke 12--  Jesus told His followers that God

clothes the grasses in beautiful lilies that outshine wealthy King 

Solomon's best clothing.  He feeds the birds, specifically ravens, 

though they don't work and plan as the farmer does.  Jesus tells His 

followers that His Father will certainly take care of them, also, and 

that they shouldn't worry. 

***Habakkuk 3:17-19, a paraphrase.  If all else goes badly, rejoice. 

This is not idle, wishful thinking, nor pie in the sky optimism.  

Cowper suffered from crippling, pitch black depression at a time

before there were psychiatric medications. 

(Habakkuk is one of my favorite books of the Bible.) 

North Rim Grand Canyon

[July 2017 vacation]

Some things are poetry without words!

Angel's Window, on of the few places to see the Colorado River from the North Rim.  

(Look closely through the window on the close-up.)

There is also the escaped buffalo herd from a failed cattle-buffalo crossing experiment over 100 years ago.  (They have some cattle DNA.)

October 2010 South Rim Visit

"In His hand are the depths of the earth;

The peaks of the mountains are His also." (Psalm 95:4)

"...He who was seated on the throne said,

'See, I am making all things new...

  To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.'

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more,

neither shall there be mourning,

nor crying, nor pain anymore,

for the former things have passed away.”

(Revelation 21:5,6b,4)