“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him” ( Matthew 2:1-2).
Most Churches or Christmas movies tell the story of the magi during the Christmas season. This journey is remarkable because it represents the quest for Truth that every human must take.
The magi were a group of intelligent and wealthy men, and like anyone who is honestly pursuing Truth, the journey took them to places they did not imagine. They were familiar with the coming of a king, a messiah, from their studies of prophecy. Naturally, they went to the place of power where Herod (the ruler) lived to find a king. Yet the answer to the search was not there; it was not with the mighty and learned. We usually do not assume much about this, but imagine that you are a wealthy intellectual coming from afar, and the journey takes you to such humble settings. But they didn’t give up, because when one is truly in search of answers, one does not relent.
The magi did not find their answer in a place of power or brilliance, but in a baby found in a humble looking for shelter. Like the magi, we must be willing to go to unexpected places in pursuit of answers. The notion of Truth is one of the most pressing longings of every heart, and Jesus is the answer. “I am the Truth,” said Jesus. But we must humble ourselves to find the answer to our journey. But when we find it, we will not have any other response than to adore him and offer our gifts. In Jesus, we find the answer to the quest for Truth. Like the Magi, let us look for truth, and take the journey to Jesus this Christmas.
“If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair.”
-C.S. Lewis