THE STORY OF THE THREE KINGS - PART II
[Read Part I -- Read Part III]
The three Kings journeyed to Jerusalem, each his own way with his own company. Yet as they neared the city, dark clouds covered the earth and they lost sight of the Star. In this event, the prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled: "Arise, be enlightened, O Jerusalem: for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For behold darkness shall cover the earth, and a mist the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall walk in thy light, and kings in the brightness of thy rising" (Is 60:1-3). Note: If you are able, continue reading that chapter of Isaiah as it is quite illuminating, especially with respect to this narrative. Incidentally, this unusual darkening of the sky should also remind us of a similar occurrence when Our Lord was being crucified some thirty three years later.
Melchior arrived first and halted his caravan at the major crossroads outside Jerusalem where three roads met (one from the north, from the south, and another from the east). This was at the base of Mount Calvary, where our Lord was crucified. We learn from the Gospels that many people passed by this way and saw our Lord on Good Friday. Since it was such a commonly traversed point, Pilate even had the inscription "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews" written in three languages.
Baltazar arrived next and the arrival of the dark cloud compelled him to stop beside the hill of Olivet (where our Lord suffered His agony and also ascended into heaven). The dark clouds then lifted just as suddenly as they descended, and Baltazar proceeded to advance, meeting Melchior at the crossroads of the three roads. It was there that they then also met King Caspar coming along the third highway. The three experienced great joy at meeting each other and learning that they had all received the same message and shared a common purpose. Despite their diverse languages, communication and understanding among the three was quite possible. God's secret designs should not be overlooked in these events: the Gentiles approached the Eternal King from each and every direction and converged upon Jerusalem from 'the outside world.' The ‘curse of Babel’ evaporates before those who come in common purpose to worship the True God.
Now together for the first time, the Three Kings rode forth into Jerusalem to find the New King of the Jews. King Herod and all the inhabitants of the city were much disturbed at their unexpected arrival, for their hosts and company and beasts were of so great a multitude that the city could not receive them all. (The Scriptures record that the whole city was disturbed, yet it would be extremely unlikely for the entire populace to be affected if only three ‘wise men’ from a foreign land had arrived. Such Scriptural clues should open our hearts and minds to the fact that the Scriptures leave many details hidden, some of which have providentially been preserved for us in our traditions.) For the most part, the gentiles accompanying the kings abode and remained outside the city. The Three Kings and their select escorts however entered Jerusalem and asked of the leading men of the city: "Where is he that is born King of the Jews for we have seen His Star in the East and we are come to worship Him." Upon hearing this, Herod was greatly upset and inquired from his princes and priests where the Christ was to be born. They responded "In Bethlehem of Judea, thus it is written by the prophets." Herod privately called to him the Kings and learned the time of the Star and other details of their journey. He then sent them to Bethlehem, King David’s City, with the request: "Go and inquire diligently of this Child and when ye have found Him, come again and tell me, that I too may come and worship Him." As the Kings exited Jerusalem, the Star reappeared and led them once again to Bethlehem (this name quite appropriately means ‘House of Bread’).
We should also know that Herod was a foreigner. He was an Idumean (also known as Edom). This is a land south of Jerusalem and a long time enemy of Judea. Herod was not of the lineage of King David and therefore considered by many to be an imposter upon the throne, i.e. a false king. It was the conquering Romans who had elevated Herod to this position because he curried their favor. The Romans in turn placed much territory of the surrounding lands under his authority. Herod was therefore not only a foreigner and false king, but a collaborator with the conquering oppressors who unjustly demanded tribute, taxes and total subservience. It is easy to understand why the majority of the Jewish people never accepted Herod as a true ruler. He was painfully aware of this and was always in great fear and envy for his throne. When he saw the Three Kings' retinue and heard what they had to say, his worst fears were set ablaze and the Enemy entered into him. Filled with malice and envy, he thought, “Such kings had never come to visit me or to pay me tribute. Why now? Why for Him?” Filled with poisonous pride, he hardened his heart like stone against this New Born King, whom he thought would surely try to strip him of his (unjust) authority. Like bitter bile boiling within, an unholy rage, violence and deceit poured forth from his putrid heart.
Passing by the Tower of the Flock (Migdal Edar), the Kings encountered the favored shepherds, who had also seen the Star and received the Message from the Angel. As they had grown accustomed to do, the shepherds shared all they had seen and heard with the Kings, who were in turn filled with gladness and greatly comforted. As they spoke, the Star began to shine with an even greater intensity. The Kings gave the shepherds great gifts and rode forth on their way to set up their camp just outside the town and the blessed cave of Bethlehem.
The Three Kings first encountered St. Joseph. They paid him due honor as a king and requested the privilege of adoring the Christ King. St. Joseph informed the Blessed Mother of the visitors, while the Three Kings returned to their camp and clothed themselves in their new and most worshipful clothes (as kings should be arrayed). The Kings came to adore Jesus in the sixth hour of the day and the light of the Star filled the poor home of the Holy Family. The Baby Jesus was thirteen days old, quite ruddy and healthy, and lay swaddled in poor clothes in hay in a manger. Our Lady was covered with a white mantle which she held closed before her with her left hand. Her head was covered as well, and she sat beside the manger. With her right hand she lifted up the Christ Child's head.
With tears of joy upon their faces, the three Kings offered their finest gifts of gold (Melchior), frankincense (Baltazar) and myrrh (Caspar). Thus were fulfilled the great prophecies we annually hear the Church pray in her sacred liturgy: "The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Madian and Epha: all they from Saba shall come, bringing gold and frankincense: and shewing forth praise to the Lord." (Isaiah 60:6) "The kings of Tharsis and the islands shall offer presents: the kings of Arabia and Saba shall bring gifts: And all kings of the earth shall adore Him: all Nations shall serve Him." (Psalm 71:10-11)
The Blessed Mother meekly bowed her head and said "Deo gratias" or "I thank God". The Kings prostrated themselves before the Child and His Mother and they worshiped Him. They also brought with them many other gifts, including precious jewels and stones, from India, Chaldea, Persia, Arabia and their other lands. Blessed Mother and St. Joseph were much in awe with these many treasures and barely even touched them. They knew that their Son did not need these gifts for He had made all the world out of nothing and all the power of the earth was in His will. They also wished to embrace holy poverty. Therefore they gave all the gifts, except for the three best known, to the poor in the surrounding areas and they anonymously made most generous gifts to the priests and to the Temple in Jerusalem. Out of reverence to the Holy Family, Scripture does not record these events. Joseph and Mary had voluntarily accepted a vow of poverty and wished to keep their works of charity hidden. They lived that teaching: “But when thou dost alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth. That thy alms may be in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret will repay thee” (Mt 6:3).
The three best known gifts they thought to preserve for their Son on account of divine (theological) reasons and this is why the Scriptures make mention of them. The gold revealed that He is truly the King of kings, the incense that He is true God and all human worship is due Him, and the myrrh that He is true man and thus subject to death. All future generations of Christians have thus been able to see the very essence of our Christological faith (regarding the Second Person of the Most Blessed Trinity) expressed in a most sublime manner through these gifts. Then the entire retinue and court of the Kings formed a procession and each in their turn came before the Christ Child - prostrate they too worshiped Him. (The story of what miraculously befell these three special treasures we shall recount in the third section.)
Now when the Kings finally took their leave, they had a great feast and finally broke their fast (for they had not eaten for thirteen days). They told all the men in Bethlehem and the surrounding area what they had seen. That night in their sleep, the Angel appeared to them and warned them not to return to Herod but to go back to their lands by diverse ways. They were given to understand that Herod was a deceiver and wished to harm the Child, but they themselves were not to do Herod any harm. They journeyed home together and this time did include sea travel in their journey. It took them two years to return to their homes (that we may know the difference between man and God's workings). On this long return journey, many people in the lands worshipfully received them. The Three Kings never ceased preaching what they had seen and heard and distributed all their remaining gifts and treasures among the people they met. Their names and tales were never after forgotten.
When Herod heard that the Three Kings had gone home without doing as he charged them, a great rage and venomous malice burst forth from his heart. Like Pharaoh of old who pursued the Hebrews, Herod now pursued the Gentiles. Everywhere he passed he heard people tell of their great nobility and magnificent array; and they always told of the New Born King. In his anger and envy, Herod left a burnt path of destruction behind him as he pursued the Kings, trying to wipe their memory from the face of his land. Hearing that the Kings had taken to ship in Tarsus in Cilicia (the home birth of St. Paul), he was especially angered at this city and burnt all their ships and goods. And just as Pharaoh's rage was curbed at the Red Sea, so Herod's rage could no longer pursue the Kings across the sea. He made every attempt he could conceive but lacking a viable or experienced navy, he failed. Instead, he turned all his violence upon the Innocent Ones in his own land. Being a deceiver himself, and his mind filled with madness, he began to suspect that the Three Kings had plotted to deceive him from the beginning. Moreover, he contrived in his mind that they had intentionally fled by what he considered a circuitous route in order to make him lose valuable time, for many months had now passed. Thus, he ordered that all the children two years of age and younger in Bethlehem, and all the surrounding area, should be slaughtered.
It was at this time that John the Baptist was secretly taken into the desert and raised in the wilderness. His father, the priest Zachary, was also martyred at this time for failing to reveal his son's whereabouts. Many suffered and many were killed by Herod’s blind and evil rage, including but not limited to the Holy Innocents. These chosen babes shed their blood to temporarily save Jesus, just as He would later shed His Precious Blood to eternally save them - and us all. Holy Mother Church honors them and recalls their sacrifice in her holy Liturgy every December 28. "A voice in Rama was heard, lamentation and great mourning; Rachel bewailing her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not" (Mt 2:18).