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

And Death Shall Have No Dominion*

[to commemorate All Saints Day, November 1st] 

And death shall have no dominion.* 

Dead men naked they shall be one 

With the man in the wind and the west moon; 

When their bones are picked clean and the clean bones gone, 

They shall have stars at elbow and foot; 

Though they go mad they shall be sane, 

Though they sink through the sea they shall rise again; 

Though lovers be lost love shall not; 

And death shall have no dominion. 

And death shall have no dominion. 

Under the windings of the sea 

They lying long shall not die windily; 

Twisting on racks when sinews give way, 

Strapped to a wheel, yet they shall not break; 

Faith in their hands shall snap in two, 

And the unicorn evils run them through; 

Split all ends up they shan't crack; 

And death shall have no dominion. 

And death shall have no dominion. 

No more may gulls cry at their ears 

Or waves break loud on the seashore; 

Where blew a flower may a flower no more 

Lift its head to the blows of the rain; 

Through they be mad and dead as nails, 

Heads of the characters hammer through daisies; 

Break in the sun till the sun breaks down, 

And death shall have no dominion.* 

--Dylan Thomas, 1933 [Welsh; now in public domain] 

 *Romans 6:9-- "Since Christ has been raised from the dead, the dead die no more; death has no dominion over him.

"Supermoon" Rising Over a Cemetery in Missouri

August

This was its promise, held to faithfully: 

The early morning sun came in this way 

Until the angle of its saffron* beam
Between the curtains and the sofa lay, 

And with its ochre** heat it spread across 

The village houses, and the nearby wood, 

Upon my bed and on my dampened pillow 

And to the corner where the bookcase stood. 

Then I recalled the reason why my pillow 

Had been so dampened by those tears that fell-

I'd dreamt I saw you coming one by one 

Across the wood to wish me your farewell. 

You came in ones and twos, a straggling crowd; 

Then suddenly someone mentioned a word: 

It was the sixth of August, by Old Style***, 

And the Transfiguration of Our Lord****. 

For from Mount Tabor**** usually this day 

There comes a light without a flame to shine, 

And autumn draws all eyes upon itself 

As clear and unmistaken as a sign.*****

But you came forward through the tiny, stripped, 

The pauperly and trembling alder grove, 

Into the graveyard's coppice, russet-red******, 

Which, like stamped gingerbread, lay there and glowed. 

 And with the silence of those high treetops 

Was neighbour only the imposing sky 

And in the echoed crowing of the cocks 

The distances and distances rang by: 

There in the churchyard underneath the trees, 

Like some surveyor from the government 

Death gazed on my pale face to estimate 

How large a grave would suit my measurement. 

All those who stood there could distinctly hear

A quiet voice emerge from where I lay: 

The voice was mine, my past; prophetic words 

That sounded now, unsullied by decay:

'Farewell, wonder of azure and of gold,

Surrounding the Transfiguration's power: 

Assuage now with a woman's last caress 

The bitterness of my predestined hour! 

'Farewell timeless expanse of passing years!

Farewell, woman who flung your challenge steeled 

Against the abyss of humiliations: 

For it is I who am your battlefield! 

'Farewell, you span of open wings outspread, 

The voluntary obstinacy of flight, 

O figure of the world revealed in speech, 

Creative genius, wonder-working might!'

--Boris Pasternak [author of Dr. Zhivago], 1890-1960

*saffron-- orangish yellow 

**ochre--  deep orange-y brown

***adjusted calendar:  Pope Gregory XIII adjusted the calendar in 1582.  Due to the way leap days had been inserted, there had been "seasonal creep."  About 11 days were taken out of the calendar, readjusting dates, and leap days were no longer inserted in years that are divisible by 100 (i.e. 1700), unless they are also divisible by 400 (i.e. 2000).  

   Protestant-dominated countries were slower to adopt the calendar. Great Britain and its colonies adopted the Gregorian Calendar in September of 1752.  You may have heard that Washington's birthday 'moved'?

   Eastern Orthodox countries were even slower to adopt the new calendar, which most did for purely civic, non-church purposes. Within Orthodox churches, the 'old calendar' is often still used.

****Feast of Transfiguration/Mt. Tabor.  Eastern Orthodox churches celebrated the Feast of the Transfiguration on the 6th of August.  Lutherans used to use this date, also. Transfiguration is the event where Jesus shone forth brightly on a mountaintop.  Many Christian traditions suggested this was Mt. Tabor.

      Roman Catholics set the date as the last Sunday before Lent. This is when Lutherans now celebrate it. This makes sense, as the event was one of the final ones before Jesus travelled to Jerusalem to give His life for the world.

*****August giving way to autumn.  Not really a factor where I currently live but it is in many places.

******russet red coppice--  russet is a dark-brown color with reddish or even orange tinges; a coppice is an area where trees have been cut down to stumps, often to encourage the growth of other plants or trees

Immortal, Invisible God Only Wise

 [posted in this month of Father's Day]

Immortal, invisible, God only wise, 

In light inaccessible hid from our eyes.

Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days, 

Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise. 

Suburban Phoenix, AZ

Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,

Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might. 

Thy justice like mountains high soaring above;

Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love. 

To all life Thou givest, to both great and small; 

In all life Thou livest, the true life of all. 

We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree, 

And wither and perish; but naught changeth Thee.

Lake Tahoe, Nevada, USA

Great Father of glory, pure Father of light, 

Thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight.

All praise we would render, O help us to see:

'Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee.

--Walter C. Smith, D.D., 1867  

Rev. Smith was born in Aberdeen Scotland in 1824.  He studied theology in Edinburgh and held several pastorates.  In 1876, he became a minister in the Free Kirk [Church] of Scotland. This is a conservative Presbyterian denomination that resisted merging with other Presbyterian groups in Scotland. 

This hymn is the only poetry of Smith's still in common usage.  It does not speak clearly to the central teaching of Christianity, Christ dying for humanity's sin. But its words inspire Christians enough to continue including it in hymnals.

Wikipedia: Walter Chalmers Smith

Awake My Heart with Gladness

                                                             

Awake, my heart, with gladness, 

See what today is done; 

Now, after gloom and sadness, 

Comes forth the glorious Sun. 

My Savior there was laid 

Where our bed must be made 

When to the realms of light 

Our spirit wings its flight. 

The foe in triumph shouted 

When Christ lay in the tomb; 

But, lo, he now is routed, 

His boast is turned to gloom. 

For Christ again is free; 

In glorious victory He 

Who is strong to save 

Has triumphed o'er the grave. 

This is a sight that gladdens; 

What peace it doth impart! 

Now nothing ever saddens 

The joy within my heart. 

No gloom shall ever shake, 

No foe shall ever take, 

The hope which God's own Son 

In love for me hath won. 

Now hell, its prince, the devil 

Of all their powers are shorn; 

Now I am safe from evil, 

And sin I laugh to scorn. 

Grim Death with all his might 

Cannot my soul affright; 

He is a powerless form, 

Howe'er he rave and storm. 

The world against me rageth 

Its fury I disdain; 

Though bitter war it wageth 

Its work is all in vain. 

My heart from care is free, 

No trouble troubles me. 

Misfortune now is play 

And night is bright as day. 

Now I will cling forever 

To Christ, my Savior true; 

My Lord will leave me never, 

Whate'er He passeth through. 

He rends Death's iron chain, 

He breaks through sin and pain, 

He shatters hell's dark thrall, 

I follow Him through all. 

To halls of heavenly splendor 

With Him I penetrate; 

And trouble ne'er may hinder 

Nor make me hesitate. 

Let tempests rage at will, 

My Savior shields me still; 

He grants abiding peace 

And bids all tumult cease. 

He brings me to the portal 

That leads to bliss untold, 

Whereon this rhyme immortal 

Is found in script of gold: 

"Who there My cross hath shared* 

Finds here a crown prepared; 

Who there with Me hath died 

Shall here be glorified." 

--Paul Gerhardt 1648 ("Auf, auf, mein Herz, mit Freuden"); translated John Kelly, 1867

*Matthew 16:24-26 & Revelation 2:10

The Lord Will Provide

Though troubles assail 

And dangers affright, 

Though friends should all fail 

And foes all unite; 

Yet one thing secures us, 

Whatever betide, 

The scripture assures us, 

The Lord will provide. 

The birds without barn 

Or storehouse are fed, 

From them let us learn 

To trust for our bread: 

His saints, what is fitting, 

Shall ne’er be denied, 

So long as ’tis written, 

The Lord will provide.

We may, like the ships, 

By tempest be tossed 

On perilous deeps, 

But cannot be lost. 

Though Satan enrages 

The wind and the tide, 

The promise engages, 

The Lord will provide. 

His call we obey 

Like Abram of old, 

Not knowing our way, 

But faith makes us bold; 

For though we are strangers 

We have a good Guide, 

And trust in all dangers, 

The Lord will provide. 

When Satan appears 

To stop up our path, 

And fill us with fears, 

We triumph by faith; 

He cannot take from us, 

Though oft he has tried, 

This heart–cheering promise, 

The Lord will provide. 

He tells us we’re weak, 

Our hope is in vain, 

The good that we seek 

We ne’er shall obtain, 

But when such suggestions 

Our spirits have plied, 

This answers all questions, 

The Lord will provide. 

No strength of our own, 

Or goodness we claim, 

Yet since we have known 

The Savior’s great name; 

In this our strong tower 

For safety we hide, 

The Lord is our power, 

The Lord will provide. 

When life sinks apace 

And death is in view, 

This word of his grace 

Shall comfort us through: 

No fearing or doubting 

With Christ on our side, 

We hope to die shouting, 

The Lord will provide.

 —John Newton (1725-1807) from Olney Hymns, 1779 [author of "Amazing Grace"]

A Mighty Fortress

 

     October 31st is Reformation Day for Lutherans*.  In honor of this, here is the best known hymn by Martin Luther for you to read as a poem.  It is based on Psalm 46 and was written around 1529.  Some people think Luther wrote it in remembrance of his friend Leonhard Kaiser, who was martyred due to the Reformation.   

     The translation from German included here is closer to the original German, a little less like the modern hymn.   It is based somewhat on literal translations and somewhat on the known translations, with adaptations by this blogger.

     The picture included is the Luther's Rose**, designed by him.  It is rich in symbolism.  

1) A mighty Fortress is our God,

A good Defense and Weapon.

He helps us free from every need.   

That has us now o'ertaken.

The old evil enemy

Works still more earnestly.

His pow'r and ploys are great;

His armor is cruel hate:

On earth is not his likeness.

2) With our own strength is nothing done,

Else quick our loss effected.

But for us fights the suitable One, 

Whom God Himself elected. 

You ask who is He who came?

Christ Jesus is His name,

Of heav'nly hosts the Lord, 

God's only Son adored:

The battlefield He must hold.

3)  Though all  the world with devils were filled

All threat'ning to devour us,

We would not fear, for God has willed

They cannot overpow'r us.

The prince of worldly power,

Howe'er he might glower,

We will not be budged:

Since he's already judged,

One little word can bring him down.

4) The Word they still shall let remain

And not be thankful for it.

He is with us according to plan

With His good gifts and Spirit.

Were they to take our life,

Goods, honor, child and wife,

Let them go away.

They still will have no sway:

The Kingdom shall remain for us.

     ---Martin Luther, c. 1529; translation by various; adapted c.m.b., 2023

*Reformation Day, October 31st.  Centuries before this, the Roman Catholic church had taken over the Druid observance of Samhain. The Druids believed the barrier between the worlds of dead and living was "thinnest" at midnight on October 31st. The Church repurposed November 1st as All Saints' Day. October 31st became known as "All Hallows' Eve" in English. Luther chose the day before All Saints Day, by tradition, to post his 95 Theses (statements) in German on a church door, calling for a debate among church leaders and scholars. These were translated and sparked the Protestant Reformation.

**Luther's Rose:  this was first sketched by Luther around 1516 to 1520 and fully designed at the request of Johann Friedrich, Elector of Saxony. The black cross represents Jesus' sacrifice, the blackness symbolizing our sin. The red heart symbolizes our faith; Luther said that because of our sin, the heart ought to be black, yet, due to Christ, the heart is not utterly destroyed.  The heart is on a white rose, to show that faith gives joy, comfort and peace:  white is the color of angels and spirits.  The sky blue field symbolizes joy and that faith is the beginning of future heavenly joy.  The gold ring symbolizes precious eternity, which has no beginning and end.  

This rendering has the triple phrase often used by Lutherans, sometimes written in Latin: sola fide, sola gratia, sola Scriptura.  A fourth could be added:  solus Christus, Christ alone.

Blessed September

 

   During September in much of Northern Hemisphere, little purple daisy-like flowers ("asters") are in bloom.  Across Europe, especially in England, they are often referred to as "Michaelmas Daisies."  This is due to their on-going blooming over the feast of St. Michael and All Angels on September 29th.

    The Bible does not say as much about angels as some people might assume.  But it does say some important things.  One thing to note: humans do NOT become angels when we die.  Angels were always created to be spirit only and are the servants of God. We were created to be both physical and spiritual. Though the physical must go into the earth for a while at death, due to humanity's fall into sin, the body will be raised at the end of time. We are not only servants of God: we are also His children.  When the angels fell into sin, they became the demons that are cursed forever. There is no salvation plan for them.  On the other hand, God sent His Son (who is also God Himself) to become human and to die for our sins.

     Michael is a powerful angel who shows up in the books of Daniel and Revelation. He is also briefly mentioned in Jude. His name in Hebrew means "who is like God?"  ["Micah" is a related name. It means "who is like Yahweh (the proper name for God)."]  Michael fought in the great war in heaven after Satan rebelled against God, before humans were tempted. 

   Gabriel, whose name means "God is my Strong Man", is the other angel with a name. He appeared to Daniel in the Old Testament. His main appearances were around the time of Jesus' birth, making announcements to Zechariah, father of John the Baptist, and making the announcement of Jesus' coming to His mother, the Virgin Mary.

     Other angels serve in other roles. Some are, indeed, our guardian angels.  Four remain around the throne of God.  None is described in the Bible as the cutesy little Valentine cherubs. 

Here is some Biblical poetry for you to enjoy over this happy festival:

For He [God] shall give His angels charge over you,

To keep you in all your ways.

In their hands shall they bear you up

Lest you dash your foot on a stone.  (Psalm 91:11-12, original translation)

Waterfall

      These photos are from a hike into Zapata Falls in south central Colorado last year.  The waterfalls are in the Sangre de Cristo ("Blood of Christ") Range within the Rocky Mountains.  (For more on our trip there, see the post from October, 2020.)

      Some fresh translations from Psalm 42 add to the reflections.

7) Deep calls unto deep

At the noise of Your waterfalls; 

And all your waves and billows

Over me have passed.

8) In the daytime will Yahweh command His lovingkindness,

And in the night will his song be with me--

   a prayer to the God of my life...

11) Why, O my soul, are you cast down,

And why are you disquieted within me? 

Have hope in God,

For yet shall I praise Him,

The salvation of my expression [literally 'face']

And my God.    --Sons of Korah  

Notice how the falls spill from rocks high above.  Hikers are not allowed in that area.

    For fans of the Chronicles of Narnia, which are Christian allegories, waterfalls are in many stories.  C.S. Lewis' upbringing in parts of Ireland contributed to his depictions of Narnia.  I like occasionally mentioning Narnia in this blog because Lewis does such an amazing job describing the landscape.  It is part of the great joy of going to Narnia. The Hollywood productions (as Hollywood will do) focus so much on the great breathtaking near escapes that the amount of time just absorbing natural wonders is lost.

     Lewis does mentions a number of waterfalls throughout The Chronicles of Narnia. The most well-known is in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, where the Beavers take the Pevensie children along the ravine below a waterfall in order to avoid being caught by the White Witch.  She traveled by sled and couldn't follow them down the narrow space. 

    The Great Waterfall is at the furthest western limit of Narnia.  Falling over spectacular cliffs into Cauldron Pool, it becomes the source of the Great River. 

    In the last book. The Last Battle, the trickster ape, Shift, lives near these falls.  He finds a lion skin in Cauldron Pool and tricks his foolish donkey friend, Puzzle, into wearing it and pretending to be Aslan, the Great Lion (the metaphor for Jesus).  This great hoax brings down Narnia.  

    At the end of Narnia, as the move into ever greater, more beautiful eternal Narnias, Aslan's dearest go UP the great waterfall, in a way they never could have done in their previous lives.  (Imagine climbing those!)  I could not find any artist renditions of the beloved going up the Narnian falls, so I will leave you with these final Zapata Falls photos.  My husband took these.  If you look close, you can see me in blue shirt with the giant straw hat, which I refer to as my "ugly potato farmer's hat."  (This is not to imply that potato farmers are ugly, only that my hat is.)  It has warded off skin cancer, though!  And then he took one of me closer up, getting the photos you saw above.  What a day it would have been if we COULD have ascended the falls!