They said to him: “In Bethlehem of Juda, for so it is written by the prophet.” [1]
Then Herod privately questioned[2] the three Magi as to the exact time[3] when the star appeared to them. When they had told him, he said: “Go, and search after the Child, and when you have found him, bring me word again, that I also may come and adore Him.” [4]
The Magi set out for Bethlehem, and no sooner had they left the palace of Herod than the star, which they had not seen since their entrance into Jerusalem, again appeared[5] in the heavens; and, following its guidance, they came to the place[6] where the Divine Infant was, with Mary His Mother and St. Joseph. And entering in, they adored the Child [7], and opening their treasures they offered[8] him gifts — gold, frankincense and myrrh[9] (Fig. 67).
That night God appeared to the kings in a dream and commanded them not to return to Herod[10]. So they went back by
- ↑ The prophet. Micheas: “And thou Bethlehem, the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come forth the captain that shall rule my people Israel.”
- ↑ Questioned. He called them secretly, for he had formed a dark and murderous plan which he did not wish to be known. He feared that the Jews would put the Child in a place of safety, if they found out what close inquiries he was making about Him.
- ↑ Exact time. He judged rightly that the star must have appeared at the time of the Child’s Birth, so he wished, by these inquiries, to find out how old our Lord was.
- ↑ Adore Him. The guileless Magi quite believed that the king wished to adore the Child, though no Jew would have trusted the hypocritical monarch.
- ↑ Again appeared. It had disappeared for some time from their sight, so that they were all the more glad to see it once more.
- ↑ The place. Or house (see Mat. 2, 11). As soon as the strangers who had flocked to Bethlehem for the prescribed enrolment had gone away again, Mary and Joseph had moved with the Divine Child to a human dwelling-place. What joy must have filled the hearts of the Magi! If they rejoiced as they did at the appearance of the star, their happiness must have been quite unspeakable when, at last, they found the Child on whose account they had undertaken their long and difficult journey.
- ↑ They adored the Child. Because, by the inspiration of divine grace, they recognised the Son of God in this Child.
- ↑ Offered. What we give to God is called an offering.
- ↑ Myrrh. This is a bitter though sweet-smelling resin which is laid on the bodies of the dead to preserve them from corruption.
- ↑ Not to return to Herod. God gave them this command in order to prevent Herod from finding out the abode of the Child.
