Posted on 12/16/2019 3:32:30 PM PST by Maudeen
Correcting a common misunderstanding of the Christmas season
We all have our pet peeves, right? We all have those little things that seem to bother us more than they should. Well, I hope you'll forgive me if this seems petty, but one of my pet peeves involves the "Wise Men" (or "3 Kings" or "Magi") who are almost always included in nativity scenes and plays that show up each Christmas as depictions of Jesus' birth.
Why do Wise Men bother me? It's not a personal thing. I have nothing against the Magi as individuals, I'm sure. It's just that they weren't actually present on the night when Jesus was born. In fact, they didn't hit the scene until a long time later.
Let's go to the text to see what I mean.
(Excerpt) Read more at learnreligions.com ...
It was loaded,
It exploded.
Now we're on yonder star.
Hmmm... Here you go:
Option 1. Put the Wise men on the other side of the room and teach your kids.
Option 2. Stop calling it a manger scene. Call it a Matthew 2 panorama and include the wise men.
Well, "trinity" and "Bible" are not in the Bible but we speak of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as the "Blessed Trinity" and that is NOT in the Bible...and neither is the word "Bible" for the combined works of Old and New Testaments.
It's not a perfect world, is it?
John 21:25 "Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written."
So, if something ISN'T written in the Bible it may very well be valid and true anyway. The Bible, therefore, cannot be the only source of our faith.
If you don't believe that then John lied....which I doubt.
Pax tibi.
At Christmas, I put 5 wisemen figures in my neighbor’s house. After a year or so I bring them to my house and they visit the child, then I send them back next door “another way”, pack up the Jesus, Mary, and Joseph figures and send them to Egypt along with the gold and stuff to cover costs.
That’s our Regis family tradition.
“St Anthony’s Chapel in Pittsburgh claims to have relics of the magi, at least according to Pope Benedict. “
Bogus relics are the norm.
You can go to Italy and see a vial of Mary’s breast milk... among other bizarre things.
I always tell my kids that the 3 (or more) wise men were not at the manger. They met up with Mary, Joseph and Jesus later. But they did follow the star that shined upon the manger in the first place.
I almost forgot, then we all sing, “Mary, Did You Know?“
That post was meant for post #1. Sorry.
That church is in Texas; I don’t see the church in Pittsburgh you are referring to.
Thank you! The “THREE wise men” thing always bothered me. My dad was a preacher and never had them in the Christmas programs. People would ask him why and he’d say, “Because they weren’t there.” When the finally did show up, a couple years later, there could’ve been been two or 200.
I would be happy if that song went away, too. So ugly.
Well, scripture says they brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. I guess it makes sense that each brought his own unique gift.
So that implies three magi. Doesn’t prove it, though.
So what? Sheesh
Religious people will get all bugged out about authenticity re how many wise men or when or where they showed up, but will never question the deity doctrine.
Oh boy.
I think you will like this verson of the nativity. The wise men see the star and start traveling at birth. Jesus is old enough to be standing on His own by the time they get to Him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXWoKi5x3lw&t=20s
Hahaha
At age 10 I was so proud to learn the real names of the Magi:
Melchior, Gaspard, and Balthasar.
Teacher told us not to refer to them as “Maggies”.
The family Nativity set from 1950 depicts one as white, one brown, and one black.
Your bit of “Wise Women’s actions” is good humor; however, how many know the spiritual significance of the meanings of the 3 gifts? I didn’t learn this until I was well along into my faith journey.
Frankincense: Frankincense (an incense) as a symbol of deity.
Gold: Gold as a symbol of kingship on earth.
Myrrh: Myrrh (an embalming oil) as a symbol of death.
These date back to Origen in Contra Celsum: “gold, as to a king; myrrh, as to one who was mortal; and incense, as to a God.”
And I add this reflection written by a close friend of mine about those gifts: Myrrh Is Mine — A Christmas dream that provided insight concerning one of the Magi. (1960-12) http://www.bswett.com/1960-12Myrrh.html
Blessing to all and Merry Christmas
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