• Home
  • About
  • Attributions
  • Happiness – Beatitude
  • Scripture as Prayer
  • Favorites
  • Journeys of Transformation
  • God Time
  • Falling Down the Well
  • The Jesus Bridge
  • The Narrow Gate
  • The Temptations
  • Miracles
  • The Book of Our Life
  • Connecting at Noon
  • Liturgy of the Hours
  • Abba Father
  • Who Are the Three Magi?

The Noontimes

Faith Reflections

Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Who Are the Three Magi?


Balthazar, Gaspar, and Melchior. 

Peter Paul Rubens: The Adoration of the Magi

Who were the men who visited the Christ? Scholars describe them as kings, wise men, and magi. How do we see them? Why do they persist in finding the Christ? Where do they find the strength and fidelity to continue on their pilgrimage? 

Frankincense, gold and myrrh.

Why these particular gifts? Again, scholars offer several views. Do they signify faith, hope and love? Do they represent the Trinity? 

Edward Burne-Jones: The Adoration of the Magi

Three magi, three gifts.

January 6th is the traditional date on which many Christians celebrate the wisdom these men represent in Jesus’s Infancy Narrative. Some denominations celebrate on the weekend nearest this date; but no matter our perspective, this feast day brings to each of us an opportunity to rejoice and be glad like the angels and shepherds who first witnessed the coming of God among us in human form.

Over the next few days, we might ponder what these magi and these gifts mean to us as we explore the internet for other images that speak to us.

For insights, click on the image, or visit: http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/holidays/christmas/magi-wise-men-or-kings-its-complicated.html

As we reflect on our own perceptions, we might visit: https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/jesus-historical-jesus/why-did-the-magi-bring-gold-frankincense-and-myrrh/

Click on the tapestry image for more about the tapestry itself, and more about the riddle the magi present to us. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/standingonmyhead/2015/01/the-riddle-of-the-three-wise-men.html

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

  • “Knock and the door will open; seek and you will find”. Matthew 7:7

  • Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

    Join 411 other followers

  • Blog Stats

    • 76,425 Views
  • To explore this blog, click on a tag link, or enter a word or phrase into the search bars above or below.

    anger anxiety authenticity betrayal Children of God compassion constancy corruption courage covenant David discipleship doubt eternal life exile faith fear fidelity forgiveness freedom God's goodness God's love God's mercy God's plan God's presence God's promises God's wisdom God does the impossible God turns harm to good goodness healing honesty hope humility integrity inversion Jesus joy justice kingdom-building Law of Love light love mercy miracles Moses patience Paul peace perseverance persistence Peter prayer pride promise prudence redemption remnant restoration resurrection revenge Richard Rohr serenity strength suffering thanksgiving the kingdom The Way transformation Trinity trust trust God truth understanding wisdom
  • “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart”. Jeremiah 29:13

  • Click on a category to read more reflections . . .

    Advent Christmas Comparing Scripture Easter Family Favorite Feedback Joy Lent Lenten Practice Life of Jesus in Art Mini-Noontime Music Link Poetry Prayer Prophecy Social Justice Thanksgiving Uncategorized Video Link Web site included
  • “I have found the one whom my soul loves”. Song of Songs 3:4

  • Blogroll

    • Adventures’s Blog
    • AMERICA Magazine
    • Daily Meditations with Fr. Alfonse
    • Daily Meditations with Richard Rohr
    • Deirdra Alexander's Blog
    • Emails to God
    • Free Best Health
    • Gospel Parables – The Graciousness of God
    • Joy for the Journey
    • Magnificat
    • My Year of Jubilee
    • National Catholic Reporter
    • Notes from Vanaprastha
    • Photobotos
    • Psalm 26:7 proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deed
    • Society of the Little Flower
    • Sojourner Ponderings
    • The Daily Chapter
    • Whispers in the Loggia
  • “Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all things will be given you besides”. Matthew 6:33

  • January 2021
    S M T W T F S
     12
    3456789
    10111213141516
    17181920212223
    24252627282930
    31  
    « Dec    
  • “Seek God’s will in all you do, and God will show you which path to take”. Proverbs 3:6

  • A Centering Prayer

    Good and gentle Jesus,

    Help us to speak your truth openly in kindness.

    Guide us to be honest without damaging others.

    Lead us in your way of confronting hypocrisy with honesty rather than anger.

    Keep us always in the way of your holy integrity.

    Be with us always as we walk in your light.

    We ask this in your name.

    Amen.

  • Recent Posts

    • Psalm 119: A Prayer to Rejoice in Our Portion
    • Psalm 119: Our Portion
    • Psalm 119:57-64: Heth
    • Psalm 119:49-56: Zayin
    • Psalm 119:41-48: Waw
  • “Can you discover the depths of God? Can you discover the limits of the Almighty?” Job 11:7

  • Pages

    • Abba Father
    • About
      • A family album
    • Attributions
    • Connecting at Noon
    • Falling Down the Well
    • Favorites
    • God Time
    • Happiness – Beatitude
    • Journeys of Transformation
      • A Journey for Disciples – Followers Return
      • A Journey Hiatus
      • A Journey in Stages – From Slavery to Freedom
      • A Journey Not Taken
      • A Journey of Restoration – From Exile to Reunion
      • A Journey of Return – Repentance
      • A Journey of Wisdom – Anger to Mercy
      • A Journey Too Far – The Bronze Serpent
      • Journey Companions
    • Liturgy of the Hours
    • Miracles
      • Do Not Cry
      • Expect Miracles
    • Scripture as Prayer
    • The Book of Our Life
      • The New Testament – Revising Our Suffering
        • 1 John – Testimony
        • 1 Thessalonians: The Call
        • 2 Peter – Passion
        • 2 Thessalonians – Lawlessness
        • Acts – The Story of the Holy Spirit
        • Corinthians – Idolatry
          • 2 Corinthians – Confrontation
        • Ephesians – Christ
        • Galatians – Magnanimity
        • Hebrews – Motivation
        • John – Jesus is the Word
        • Luke – Part One of God’s Promises Fulfilled
        • Mark – “I Am”
        • Matthew – Our Personal Gospel
        • Philemon – The Challenge
        • Romans – Universality and Individuality
        • The Letters of Saint Paul
        • The New Testament – The New Covenant
        • Titus – Church As Community
      • The Old Testament – God’s Promises
        • The Historical Books
          • 2 Maccabees – The Souls of the Faithful Departed
          • Esther – From Calamity to Rejoicing
          • Joshua – The Fire
          • Judges – The Cycle
          • Judith – Sublime Faith, Heroic Love
          • Ruth – Surprise
        • The Prophets
          • Amos – Accountability
          • Daniel – God Calls the Faithful and Faithless
          • Ezekiel – Dry Bones Come to Life
          • Habakkuk – Keeping Faith, Trusting in God
          • Haggai – The Great Task
          • Hosea – Alliances
          • Isaiah – God of Time and Space
          • Jeremiah – Person and Message
            • Reflections with Jeremiah
          • Lamentations – Surviving Ruin
          • Malachi – “My Messenger”
          • Malachi – Newness Through Endurance
          • Micah – Doom and Hope . . . Constancy
          • Obadiah – Outrageous Hope
          • The Prophets – Summary
          • Zephaniah – God’s Balance
        • The Torah
          • Deuteronomy – Laws
          • Exodus – The Story 
          • Numbers – Arrangement of the Tribes
        • Wisdom
          • Job – Plaint
          • Proverbs – Courage
          • Psalms – The Praises
          • Song of Songs – Tryst
    • The Jesus Bridge
    • The Narrow Gate
    • The Temptations
    • Who Are the Three Magi?
  • A prayer to reflect on Jeremiah 39: Living our lives as a gift that we return to God . . .

    Just, yet merciful God who sees and knows all, we return our lives to you.

    We, who have been created by your hand, turn back to you all that we have managed to enact in our lives in your name.

    We, who have known the protection of your power, fly home to live in you.

    We, who have been saved by your love, gather all that we are as booty to be taken in by you.

    In your mercy, guide us. In your kindness, guard us. And in your great love, give us the hope, the grace and the endurance we will need to live in joyful hope for you.

    We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

  • Categories

    • Advent
    • Christmas
    • Comparing Scripture
    • Easter
    • Family
    • Favorite
    • Feedback
    • Joy
    • Lent
    • Lenten Practice
    • Life of Jesus in Art
    • Mini-Noontime
    • Music Link
    • Poetry
    • Prayer
    • Prophecy
    • Social Justice
    • Thanksgiving
    • Uncategorized
    • Video Link
    • Web site included
  • “Have you prayed about it as much as you have talked about it?” Matthew 21:22

  • Reflecting with 1 Samuel 24: A prayer on vengeance . . .

    Generous and gracious Spirit of God,

    Remind us that you give us the gift of life.

    Guide us in living that life in gratitude to you.

    Lead us in the life of charity that Jesus shows us; lead us in the life of love to which the Spirit calls us.

    Bring us to your eternal goodness.

    Grant us the courage and fortitude to forswear vengeance even when we are urged on by friends.

    Keep us ever in your heart and mind.

    We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

  • A prayer with Leviticus 26: Complete in the Covenant

    Wise and saving God,

    your plans for us are too vast and too complex for us to understand and so we stand before you – humbly – returning to you after having gone off on our own.

    We listen, we watch, and wait for your word.

    We seek your understanding and we yearn for our completion in you.

    We witness as we watch and wait.

    Allow us to feel and acknowledge your presence and power in our lives.

    Continue to call us and to forgive us, your loyal and faithful servants.

    Remain in covenant with us, and keep us in covenant with all humankind, even as Jesus does.

    We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

  • Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

  • “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone”. Psalm 62:5

  • Our Past as Key to our Future – Reflections on the Books of Chronicles

    Bright and beautiful God, you are so patient with us as we flutter in your hands, wanting to be near you yet insisting on our independence.

    Good and gracious God, you are so merciful in your forgiveness, allowing us to find our way, never leaving our side and always welcoming us home.

    Perfect and holy God, you give us the gift of life, and you call us to discover our present as the fusion of our past and future.

    Help us to see that all time is yours . . . and that the most important moment is now.

    Guide us to live and act in you alone.

    We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

  • RSS Feed RSS - Comments

  • Beware of the Leaven: A Reflection on MATTHEW 16:5-12 in prayer . . .

    Good, and honest God, abide with us and strengthen us.

    Keep us close to you.

    Remove our deepest fears, bolster us with your certainty, and bring us into a place where the cares of our daily struggle will not overwhelm us.

    You promise us your eternal happiness.

    Keep us mindful of you just as you are mindful of us.

    Show us your authority.

    Guide us away from the leaven and keep us from the puffing up in pride.

    Lead us in the practice of your “new teaching”.

    Protect us with your loving care.

    Bring us peace in you alone.

    We ask this in Jesus’ name.

    Amen.

Blog at WordPress.com.

WPThemes.


Cancel
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
%d bloggers like this: