Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator
The story of the magi from the East is the highlight of St. Matthew's infancy narrative. It follows immediately after the reading of the genealogy of Jesus in chapter one of the Gospel. The two stories together, in the thinking of some Scripture scholars, is a way for the evangelist to invest Jesus with the honor that drives the culture of the Middle East. For these people of the Mediterranean Crescent, one of the major concerns of life is maintaining the family honor and status within that society.
Though the stigma is not as prevalent in the Western world, being born out of wedlock is not the honorable way to enter this life. Joseph certainly knew that he was not the father of Mary's child. His demonstration of faith in the message of the angel, also a part of the infancy narrative, earns him a place of honor. However, in order to invest Jesus with the same sense of human honor, Matthew writes a detailed genealogy that includes many of the central characters of the Hebrew Scriptures. The name David, which would have been written DVD in the Hebrew alphabet, adds up to the number fourteen. (Hebrew letters are also numbers, much the same as the Roman alphabet.) Matthew divides Jesus' ancestors up into three sets of fourteen generations each. The literary conceit that Matthew uses solidifies the identity of Jesus as a son of David even though Joseph is not his biological father.
The story of the magi follows immediately. In this story, those invested with honor clash with those who live in shame. Herod is the shameful character in this story. Although his deeds and his intentions are enough to invest him with shame, in order to emphasize this point, St. Matthew tells us that Herod spoke to the magi in secret. In that culture, such secretive actions are a sure sign of shameful behavior. The magi, however, are not lured into Herod's trap. They act honorably and bestow honor on Jesus by falling prostrate when they come into his presence. Then they return to their homes by a different route to avoid the shame of Herod.
St. Matthew was writing for a Jewish – Christian community. His story is invested with all sorts of references from the Hebrew Scriptures, including Isaiah and Psalm 72, both of which are used as liturgical readings for this feast. The reference to the star of Bethlehem comes from Numbers 24:17. These references and the story of the magi coupled with the genealogy help us to understand St. Matthew's intent. Jesus is the Son of David, rightful heir to the throne of David, to whom all other kings must bow in homage.