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Regnum Christi

The Heart of the Matter
January 7, 2007

Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Epiphany of the Lord
Father Shawn Aaron, LC

Matthew 2:1-12
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: ´And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.´" Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star´s appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage." After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.

Introductory Prayer:Father, you revealed your Son to the nations by the guidance of a star. Lead us to your glory in heaven by the light of faith. Draw us beyond the limits that this world imposes, to the life where your Spirit makes all life complete. We ask this through Christ Our Lord.

Petition:Jesus, grant me an honest, sincere heart.

1. Where Is the Newborn King of the Jews? Jesus once told a parable of a man in search of a precious pearl who combed the city until one day he found what he sought. He did not hesitate to sell everything to possess it. The Magi, pagans in name but not in heart, are earnestly seeking the finest of all pearls. They are contrasted with the chief priests and scribes who failed to see the signs because they grew complacent in their faith and love. There is a continual danger in the spiritual life: settling in, thinking that we have arrived to where we need to be, where we have it all pretty much “figured out” so that we are “comfortable” with our Christian faith. But those who seek the truth so as to build their lives on the truth never surrender in their endeavor to possess the truth. The Magi will arrive at the greatest of all truths, namely, that truth itself is a person and their search for truth is actually a search for God’s face: “Of you my heart speaks; you my glance seeks; your face O Lord, I seek” (Psalm 27:8). These “pagans” show us that we must never tire of looking for Jesus. This search for Jesus everyday helps keep our love fresh and our longing to serve him strong.

2. When King Herod Heard This, He Was Greatly Troubled. Herod is “greatly troubled,” yet how different his disposition is from that of a young Jewish girl who was also “troubled” by the words of an angel. Mary was “troubled” by the magnitude of God’s plan involving her very person in a unique way. Herod, on the other hand, is “troubled” at the prospect of competition in his life. A jealous person fears a competitor whom they suspect will take away a good possessed. Envy desires the good that I lack but that another person possesses. If we are not attentive, this same sentiment can begin to grow in our hearts. Roots of envy and jealousy towards others grow silently and begin to grip our will while strangling our capacity to love unconditionally. Rather than unity, it sows discord and suspicion. We can even begin to look for ways to “bring them down,” not necessarily physically, but verbally, by assailing their character and exploiting their weaknesses when speaking to others. It eventually enters into our relationship with God: we become less and less generous with God to the point of being threatened by what he may ask me to do or to give up. Because of Original Sin, attitudes like Herod’s assail the heart of each one of us. Yet we do not need to consent to such temptations. It is Mary’s example that helps us see clearly the proper disposition of heart in all our dealings with God: “Let it be done in me according to your will.”

3. They Opened Their Treasures and Offered Him Gifts. What is more precious to God than my heart? Jesus is not interested in gold, frankinsense or myrrh. Yet the Magi’s offering is pleasing to God. Why? Because of their love. Their search for the truth is not only cerebral, it also involves the heart. One day Jesus will call his disciples together and point to a woman who is depositing two coins in the treasury. What were the coins worth? Practically nothing. And the love with which they were given? Who could possibly measure that love? God can. God is the unobserved bystander in each activity of my day. He witnesses the generosity or selfishness of my heart. He invites me down the path of generous love. These men had already sacrificed much to follow that star in faith. Now they crown their journey of faith with generous love. Through their example we discover a remedy that is stronger than the selfishness and jealousy exemplified by Herod. Like these holy magi, today I want to open the treasure of my heart and my life to Jesus, trying to love him in the big and the small, as a way of paying him homage for all he has done for me.

Conversation with Christ: Dear Lord, thank you for giving me so many examples of virtue and goodness. These examples spur me on to a more generous love and a deeper commitment to seek you with all of my heart. You know that I am weak, but you are strong and your friendship is irrevocable. Help me to love you as I should and be your witness today.

Resolution: Today I will make three acts of hidden charity.