We Three Kings

The Meaning of The Magi's Gifts and The Feast of Epiphany

Introduction

Tis’ the season of Christmastide, which means that time’s wheel is turning. The Feast of Theophany (or Epiphany) is just around the next turn.

For those who are unaware, this is the moment in the Christian year when we celebrate the Magi’s mysterious march to Bethlehem to bring their magnificent gifts to the Christ-child of Mary in the lowly manger. For centuries, God’s people have observed this season, recognizing its significance as a pivotal moment in the sacred narrative of Christ. It unveils His identity as the divine being who has descended from above, assuming human form — a manifestation known as theophany.

Often times, we pass over this narrative with great haste. I believe if we’d slow down, we’d discover that there's profound significance within the story, inviting us to simmer and savor its sacred depths.

It’s common knowledge that the Magi, celebrated for their celestial insights, traced the radiant path of the Star of Bethlehem to encounter a King. Yet rarely do we take a moment to contemplate the deeper meaning behind their carefully chosen gifts. These gifts were not arbitrary; indeed, they carry profound meaning.

If you are a regular reader here at The Narnian, you know there is always more than meets the eye.

To use a metaphor, there is always more beyond the wardrobe. In C.S. Lewis' The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, the wardrobe, while serving its practical purpose as a storage space for jackets, transcends its material function. Delving deeper, it becomes a portal to the enchanted world of Narnia.

This parallels how ancient writers, particularly during the Medieval era of Christendom, approached the text of the Bible. They envisioned it as a narrative with layers of meaning, much like peeling back the layers of an onion. Similarly, they perceived these mysterious gifts brought by the Magi as harboring not just a singular layer of significance but rather multiple layers waiting to be explored. Let's delve into that.

Contemplating The Magi’s Gifts

In his chapter dedicated to The Feast of Epiphany and The Three Kings in The Golden Legend, Jacobus de Voragine highlights Saint Bernard's reflections on the gifts of the Magi, which I’d like for us to consider together.

But, before delving into the interpretation of these gifts, I'd like to present this as a case study supporting my earlier assertion. It's evident that our approach to reading the Bible differs from that of our ancient predecessors. In our modern perspective, we often focus solely on the literal sense, treating the words in a superficial manner. However, those who preceded us viewed grasping the literal sense as merely the initial step in the process of exegesis. Starting from the literal sense, they would ascend towards the heavens, revealing layers of meaning that lay beyond, hidden from us who are confined below due to our preoccupation with the literal sense of the words.

This is evident in Saint Bernard's exegesis of the gifts of the Magi. His interpretation progresses from the literal sense upward towards the beatific vision. He elaborates on the enigmatic gifts of the Magi, expressing:

“For they offered to Mary, the mother of the child, to relieve her poverty, incense against the stench of the stable and evil air, myrrh to comfort the tender members of the child and to put away the vermin. They offered gold to pay the tribute, the incense to make sacrifice, the myrrh for the sepulture of dead men. The gold signified love, the incense prayer, the myrrh the mortification of flesh. And these three things ought we offer to God. These three signified three things that be in Jesus Christ: The precious deity, the soul full of holiness, and the entire flesh all pure and without corruption. By the gold which is most precious of all metals is understood the Deity, by the incense the soul right and devout offering devotion and prayer, and the myrrh preserving the flesh from corruption.”

You might be curious about how Saint Bernard discerned these intricate layers in the text and why it may elude a modern reader. It's crucial to recognize that his approach to exegesis and Bible interpretation is firmly rooted in medieval exegesis, utilizing a method known as the quadriga. For those unfamiliar, the quadriga is a comprehensive four-fold approach to exegesis aimed at unveiling the literal (the explicit content and occurrences in the text), Christological (how the text signifies Christ), moral (the moral duties outlined in the text), and heavenly (what awaits us in the beatific vision) dimensions of a given passage. This method empowered the ancient theologians to delve into various layers of meaning within the same biblical text, enhancing their comprehension of its significance.

When we embrace Bernard's quadrigatic exegesis, we gain profound insights that inform us in ways a surface reading would not. It not only imparts the literal meaning but also enlightens us about the identity of Christ, our duties to God, and the destiny awaiting us in the beatific vision when we behold Him face to face.

The literal interpretation suggests that the gold alleviated Mary's poverty, the incense purified the air in the inn where they stayed amid animals, and the myrrh provided comfort to the child while repelling vermin.

In a Christological context, these gifts serve as a revelation or apocalypse, collectively unveiling Christ. The gold serves as a tribute, acknowledging Him as the God-King; the incense symbolizes a sacrifice made to Him, and the myrrh hints at the Magi's mysterious awareness of His eventual death. Additionally, they disclose aspects of Christ's precious deity, holy soul, and uncorrupted flesh.

From a moral perspective, the gold symbolizes love, the incense represents prayer (as seen in Revelation 8:4), and the myrrh signifies the mortification of the flesh. These aspects guide us in understanding our moral duties and emphasize what we should offer to God.

On a heavenly level, these gifts direct our focus toward the beatific vision. A future moment is envisioned when we will collectively stand before God, offering devotion and prayer, ultimately attaining incorruptibility for eternity.

What captivates me is that these interpretations aren't purely speculative or arbitrary flights of fancy. They are firmly grounded in the literal sense of the text. It's as if the literal sense forms a sturdy foundation that extends upward like a heavenly ladder, each rung revealing a distinct layer of meaning. This approach highlights the depth and richness embedded within the text, offering a structured and profound understanding that ascends from the literal to the celestial.

In essence, this approach aids us in engaging with Scripture in alignment with the practices of our pre-modern forebears from the Great Tradition. It seeks to nurture the complete individual, facilitating maturity and directing one's gaze towards the long-forgotten beatific vision — a concept that has faded from the awareness of many modern Christians.

It is also fascinating to me to see that some of these insights are also evident in the timeless Christmastide carol known as We Three Kings. Within this carol, we encounter the three magi from the east (oriens in Latin) as mentioned in Matthew 2:1. These mysterious men from the edge of the world present their gifts to the Christ-child and provide contemplative insights into their symbolic meanings. The carol unfolds:

Three Kings of Orient

All

We Three Kings of Orient are,
Bearing gifts we traverse afar,
Field and fountain,
Moor and mountain,
Following yonder Star.

O Star of Wonder, Star of Night,
Star with Royal Beauty bright,
Westward leading,
Still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect Light.

Gaspard

Born a King on Bethlehem plain,
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King for ever,
Ceasing never
Over us all to reign.
Refrain

Melchior

Frankincense to offer have I,
Incense owns a Deity nigh:
Prayer and praising
All men raising,
Worship Him God on High.
Refrain

Balthazar

Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom;—
Sorrowing, sighing,
Bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.
Refrain

All

Glorious now behold Him arise,
King, and God, and Sacrifice;
Heav’n sings Hallelujah:
Hallelujah the earth replies.

The composer of this Christmas carol, rooted in the Anglican tradition, evidently recognized the profound layers of meaning inherent in the Christmas gift. He notes the themes of precious gold and kingship, incense and prayer, and myrrh and death. These layers are skillfully employed in the musical setting to inspire us to worship Christ, mirroring the reverence demonstrated by the Magi.

Celebrating Epiphany

How should we then celebrate the Epiphany of our Lord?

Traditionally, this sacred moment in the Christ narrative transpired on the twelfth day of Christmas. Gifts were exchanged throughout all twelve days, reaching a culmination with the offerings presented by the Magi to Christ on Epiphany. This liturgical practice is not merely a reflection of the Epiphany narrative but is intended to be understood as a metaphysical participation in the unfolding story of Christ.

Another customary observance linked with Epiphany involves the ritual of blessing homes. This practice includes marking doorways with the initials of the Magi — Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar — along with the current year.

For instance, the Epiphany blessing for the present year will be represented as follows:

20+C+M+B+24.

Additionally, the initials CMB is an abbreviation for the Latin phrase "Christus Mansionem Benedicat," translating to "Christ bless this house." The four +’s represents the cross along with the four seasons of the year.

This liturgical blessing is also read as well.

Leader: O God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Light of the nations and the glory of your people, bless this house and all who dwell here. Preserve and protect those who live, visit, and worship you in this place from all harm and every temptation. May it be a place of peace, love, and health, that we may rejoice in the gifts and graces you have bestowed upon us through Christ, who lives and reigns with you, now and forever.

All: Amen.

The doorway may not be marked with symbols in chalk with this blessing:

Leader: May all who come to our home rejoice to find Christ living among us; and may we seek and serve, in everyone we meet, that same Jesus who is Lord, forever and ever.

All: Amen.

Leader: Lord God of heaven and earth, you revealed your only begotten Son to every nation by the guidance of a star. Bless this house and all who inhabit it. Fill us with the light of Christ that our love from one another would extend to others that they also may know your love. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

Another customary practice observed on Epiphany is star-gazing accompanied by a special meal. This year, we are contemplating organizing an Epiphany service on January 6th. The service would include teachings on the significance of the Magi's gifts, followed by a communal dinner and an opportunity for star-gazing. Additionally, we plan to distribute chalk to our church members, providing instruction on the tradition of the Epiphany blessing. Consider incorporating these activities into your church celebration.

Conclusion

As we stand on the precipice of Christmastide, gazing toward the impending Feast of Theophany, let us not merely skim the surface of this celestial narrative. The Magi, those celestial navigators of old, beckon us to delve into the sacred depths, to savor the profound essence that resides within each carefully chosen gift.

In humble reverence and joyous celebration, let us lift our hearts in doxology for the wondrous journey through Christmastide to the impending Feast of Theophany. As we reflect on the Magi's celestial pilgrimage and the layers of meaning woven into the sacred narrative, may our praises rise like fragrant incense before Christ.

Praise be to the God-King, born in Bethlehem's humble abode, whose precious deity is symbolized by the purest gold. In prayerful devotion, we offer our love, represented by the gleaming tribute of golden splendor.

Let our voices and prayers ascend like a symphony of frankincense, acknowledging the soul full of holiness in Christ. With hearts uplifted, we join in prayer and adoration, echoing the sacred scent of incense that rises before the throne of the Almighty.

In solemn reflection, we offer the bitter perfume of myrrh, recognizing the mortal flesh of Christ, uncorrupted and pure. As we contemplate the sacrifice encapsulated in myrrh, may our lives be marked by the mortification of worldly desires, yielding to the transformative power of divine love.

Glorious now behold Him arise, our King, God, and Sacrifice. With Hallelujahs resounding, let the heavens and earth unite in a harmonious chorus. As we stand on the threshold of Theophany, let this doxology reverberate through the depths of our souls, echoing the timeless call to journey beyond the surface and into the mysteries that lie beyond the mundane.

Amen.