17 hours Ago
Memory is not really frozen. It follows us over the years, changing as we move along. Yet how often are its most treasured pictures framed by Christmas? Some will recall, either as children or parents, sitting in draughty school halls, as stage sets disintegrated and knee-high “wise men” with dodgy, cotton-wool beards followed a star.
Today, people may be more likely to follow their stars on Instagram. But back when Balthasar, Melchior and Gaspar (or Casper) first set out to find their newborn king, wonders such as Google Maps had yet to be discovered. By divination, Matthew tells us the three wise men had learned of a child “born king of the Jews”.
They had observed the baby’s star at its rising and would travel to pay homage. In his Gospel, he says King Herod of Judea was none too pleased. Herod found out that they knew the precise date on which the star heralding the birth appeared, confirming the biblical prophecy.
He got hold of them and warned them that on their return, they must inform him where the child was to be found. They got to Bethlehem, paid homage and bestowed their famous gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They also concluded that it was best to give Herod a wide berth.
The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away As time moved on, the stature of the wise men grew. By the third century, they were described as kings.
In modern tradition, Balthasar is often deemed king of Arabia, or sometimes Ethiopia. Melchior is thought to have been king of Persia, and Gaspar king of India. Scholars say literal interpretations of the Bible are to be avoided, that its purpose is for transformation, not information.
And you can’t argue with that. The faithful and the non-believer would have to accept that the little story has certainly grown a long tail. It’s believed the tradition of giving presents began with the three wise men.
Yet the Romans also had a custom of exchanging gifts on the day of the solstice, December 21. Whoever gets the credit, the principle of celebrating those around us, before us or after us, through thought, gift or deed – be they family, friends or those in need – is worth cherishing. One of the oldest human needs, we’re told, is having someone to wonder where you are when you don’t come home at night.
So, to have an annual reminder – in the spirit of the season – to keep an eye out for those who have no one, is also invaluable. Tomorrow morning, millions of children will look under their Christmas trees, or perhaps somewhere else – wherever Santa Claus has decided is best – to see where their presents are. And for the rest of us bigger children? At this special time of year, some words from Pablo Picasso may have a resonance: “The meaning of life is to find your gift.
The purpose of life is to give it away.” Happy Christmas..
