Epiphany Journey

Wednesday 13th Matthew 2:11 “Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

It is interesting that a number of people during this Epiphany season have posed the question, “I wonder what happened to the gold?”

Over the years there have been a number of suggestions and questions.

Was the gold used to ensure safe passage to Egypt to escape the blood thirsty will of Herod and fund the Holy Families stay in what some scholars suggest would have been for three years. Others suggest that it was also used to establish Joseph’s Carpentry business. More outlandish suggestions are that the thieves crucified with Christ actually stole the gold or that Judas misappropriated the treasure during his three years as treasurer to the three year mission project.

Could it have been used to support Jesus education? Who knows; the bible simply does not say. However, imagining what happened to the wise men’s gold ought to spark our own moral imagination about what will happen with our own gifts following Christmas. What do we do with our own abundance?

In the end, what matters is perhaps there is wisdom in not giving us such information in the Scriptures. As such, looking at the rest of the gospels teaching, are we being guided to focus away from things, and away from satisfying curiosity for curiosity’s sake. The gifts of the magi are not about the gifts; they are examples of human beings sacrificing their wealth, their time, even their lives to worship Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords. Someone suggest that the magi we will see in heaven; the gifts we will not.

A Prayer: Loving Lord, may the gospel continue to do its work in our hearts that we might bow quicker, lower, and with more joy than ever before you. Open the eyes of our hearts a bit wider to behold the great hope to which you’ve called us in the gospel. Deepen our adoration of you, Jesus, and loosen our grip on our so-called treasures. What do we have that you have not given us—whether it’s gold, frankincense or myrrh, or a warm bed,  or daily bread? Continue to free us for a life of caring and generosity in your most wise and worthy name we pray. Amen