The Magi’s Wonderful Gift to Me

Following the invitation of Saint Ignatius to enter a scriptural scene using my imagination, I joined the Magi on their journey to Bethlehem.   On the eve of the Epiphany, I thought I would share the wonderful gift the Magi gave to me.

To set the scene, I imagined myself as the Magi’s apprentice.  I didn’t quite see what they saw, but I followed their lead anyway, and they let me tag along.  I marveled at their intuition and their ability to read the night sky with confidence.  I looked up and saw nothing but stars.

When we arrived in Bethlehem, I expected to see sure confirmation that this newborn baby was a king.  Instead, I saw a poor, vulnerable infant wrapped in rags, tucked away in a hovel of a forgotten town.  The parents likewise looked powerless.

And yet I saw a future. Emerging from this poverty, I saw the intentional designs of a higher, more sublime wisdom. For a brief, burning moment, I understood: this is how God conquers. Not by domination, but by lowliness. Not by force, but by love that grows quietly and cannot be stopped.

That night, I dreamed.  When I awoke, I had an inexplicable sense that we must go home by another route. The insight brought forward a host of insecurities. Who was I to speak? I had no gold, no frankincense, no myrrh.  The Magi were intimidating—men of learning, experience, and authority. I delayed, rehearsed my words. Finally, I just blurted it out.  “We need to choose another way home.”

They did not criticize or dismiss me.  They did not laugh.  They listened. They reflected. After a long silence, they nodded in agreement. And just like that, my small, uncertain contribution became part of something immeasurably larger. I went from feeling invisible and out of place to realizing I belonged within God’s unfolding plan.

I did this reflection two years ago, and I can see not one but two gifts the Magi gave to me.  One is confidence in my spiritual sense.   Over the past couple of years, I’ve gotten better at hearing God’s voice—not in actions but in pondering.  It’s a gift I have been able to bring to discernment, spiritual direction, and preaching.

The other gift is recognizing that God is most present in my poverty.  Several years ago, I was at the height of my power in the world in both my career and my position in the community.  This status is in the rear-view mirror.   I am now in a place where I often feel small, vulnerable, invisible, and powerless.  The Magi affirmed that this is where the real power of God resides. 

This new phase of my spiritual life feels like an apprenticeship of wonder, an invitation to step into a world of mystery and possibility.  I thank the Magi for the gifts they brought to me.

Blessings on your own epiphanies in the New Year!