Pope Benedict XVI called on all to implore the Lord for a humble heart in order to
be able to comprehend the power and royalty of the Babe of Bethlehem in His poverty,
humility and fragility. This message of the Pope came in the homily at a Mass on
Wednesday in St. Peter’s Basilica to celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord. Epiphany
commemorates the visit by the three Magi, or the wise men from the East to Baby Jesus
in Bethlehem. According to the Gospel narration, the three followed the star of Bethlehem
to the manger where the Christ child was born. The significance behind the visit
of the Magi is the revelation of Christ as "Lord and King." The Wise Men were the
first Gentiles, or those from outside the people of Israel, to publicly recognize
the divinity of Jesus, by way of their offerings of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. In
Epiphany homily, Pope Benedict observed that the three wise men from the east were
not the mighty and the kings of the world but unknown wise men. They are the first
of the great procession of those who, through all periods of history, were able to
recognize the message of the star and know how to walk on the road indicated by the
Sacred Scripture. They knew how to find the One who, though apparently weak and
fragile, has the power to give the greatest joy and deepest in the human heart. In
the Child, Pope Benedict said, we see the wonderful reality of God who knows us and
is close to us, that His greatness and power is not expressed in the logic of the
world but the logic of a helpless child, whose strength is only that of love… Pope
Benedict then reflected on the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh that the wise
men brought to Baby Jesus. Even though they were gifts that didn’t meet the immediate
basic needs of of the Holy Family at that time, they were an act of justice, the Pope
said. In the tradition of the times in the East, the gold incense and myrrh were
the recognition of a person as God and King – and hence, an act of submission. The
consequence of this, the Pope explained, was that the Magi could no longer continue
on their old way. They no longer could be allied to Herod, the powerful and ruthless
ruler. The road they are shown is one of love that only can transform the world.
In this perspective, Pope Benedict noted that many have seen the star but few have
understood the message like the Magi. That which shuts the eyes and heart is pride
and excessive self-confidence, the Pope said. Pretending to know reality perfectly
and presuming to give the final judgement on things are things that close the heart
and make it insensitive to God. What is missing is authentic humility which submits
to someone greater; what one lacks is also authentic courage that leads one to believe
in someone who is truly great, even though He manifests Himself in a helpless child.
Pope Benedict therefore urged all to implore that Babe of Bethlehem to grant all a
wise and innocent heart to be able to see the star of His mercy and be submerged by
the light and true joy that He brings to the world.