The wise men who went to Bethlehem to adore the Lord were the first “Pilgrims of Hope” in the New Testament! Let us follow their journey to Bethlehem to see how they can inspire us to live this Jubilee year with their sense of love and hope in the Lord.
The Gospel of Matthew tells us that the wise men from the East came to seek “the one who was to be born King of the Jews” (Mt 2:2), because they had seen His star and had come to adore Him. (cf. Mt 2:2)
The star is the first protagonist of this biblical event, because it was the sight of ” His star ” that prompted the wise men to set out on their journey or pilgrimage to find the newborn Christ. In ancient times it was believed that the birth of an important ruler or event was accompanied by the appearance of a star. These wise men lived by the stars. They were experts at reading their meanings and acting accordingly. So when a unique star appeared in the sky, together with the prophecy of Israel to which they were exposed, they recognised the hope of the coming of Israel’s Messiah. Their open hearts were so eager to meet this newborn King of the Jews that they set out on a journey.
Some scholars estimate that the kings travelled some 2,000 km to reach Bethlehem, which in the days of the Lord would have taken 6 or 7 months and would not have been an easy journey! They were sustained by the hope they carried in their hearts to meet the Messiah. During the journey they had to overcome many difficulties, such as travelling in foreign lands and finding out the whereabouts of the Child. At first, they looked for Him in Herod’s palace in Jerusalem, only to be redirected to Bethlehem, the place of the Messiah’s birth according to the prophecies of Israel. As they set off, the star reappeared as a sign of hope, pointing the way to the newborn King.
Their joy was evident, and when they saw the Child with His Mother, they “fell down and worshipped Him” (Mt 2:11). As a sign of recognition, they offered Him gifts: gold for a king, frankincense for His divinity, and myrrh for His humanity.
Their pilgrimage had led them to a real encounter with God. St Matthew tells us that they returned “by another way” (Mt 2:12). Their encounter with Christ had changed their lives forever. Their pilgrimage was rewarded with the gift of intimacy with God, which, once received, directs one’s whole life.
In this Jubilee Year, Pope Francis calls us all to be “Pilgrims of Hope” and to “have a moment of genuine personal encounter with the Lord Jesus” (Spes non Confundit, n. 1). Like the wise men, during our journey this year, may we discover that our faith in Christ gives us hope and joy that “does not disappoint” (Rm 5:5).