Father Joseph Illo, pastor of Star of Sea parish in San Francisco, gave an 11-minute homily on Sunday, January 3.
Father Illo said we have a choice to follow a star like the Magi or to seek to be a star like Herod.
Go to the 6 minute 45 second marker of the video:
“They were converts, these three wise men from the east, probably from Zorastrian religion or other non-Christian beliefs. They became Christians by looking deeply into the heavens. All of us in this new year are concerned about our nation and our church and our personal lives. Try not to worry. Try to look up and not down. When you’re feeling down, look up.”
Oh come on. The historical Wise Men did not “become Christians.” There was no Church until Mary Magdeline returned from the tomb.
I understand your point. But, the term Christian didn’t come into use until well after the Resurrection. The Wise Men did worship Jesus, who is God. By your reckoning, none who encountered Him before the Crucifixion would be Christians, even if followers of Jesus. So, St. Joseph, St. John the Baptist and the woman at the well (St. Photina, as tradition calls her) and others, even if they were evangelists and brought others to Christ, would not be “Christian.” Is that correct? I think I understand what Fr. Illo was trying to say, but I’m not clear about your point.
As to when the Church began, that’s another topic, but most of the Church Fathers and the tradition teach that it began either when Our Lord’s side was pierced and opened on the Cross or at Pentecost.
How precise do we need to be in these matters?
What is the Lord trying to teach us today through these Scripture readings the Church brings us?
My thoughts.
Mary Magadline did not found the Church but Christ did, and officially established by the Holy Ghost on Pentecost .
Bohemond, ding ding ding. You win!!! You got it right!!!
Kristina, the Three Wise Men did indeed become Christians– followers of Christ– after they followed the miraculous Star, and were blessed to finally find Baby Jesus in the Manger in Bethlehem! They really did find their newborn King! And they were awestruck, and prostrated themselves before their newborn King, and offered Him precious gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh! It is true that Mary Magdalene was blessed to be the first to find the Risen Christ at His Tomb, on Easter morning– but faith in Christ was well-established, long before His death and resurrection. He had 12 Apostles, His holy Mother, and thousands of followers, joyfully waiting to hear Mary Magdalene’s thrilling news!
It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.(See Acts 11:26)
Agreed.. and there’s no actual reference to the number, let alone names, of the magi in the Bible either.
Michael Dremel– Our Sacred Tradition tells us that there were Three Wise Men, called Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar. They came from the East and prostrated themselves before the future King, Baby Jesus, and offered Him auspicious gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. The historical account is found in the second chapter of St. Matthew’s Gospel. Sacred Tradition (found in our Catechism) is Scripture as it is lived out– the Word of God as received by the prophets and Apostles, from the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, handed down through the ages. Both written Sacred Scripture and oral Sacred Tradition are very important, in our Catholic Faith. Both are the Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, passed down through the ages. The Assumption of Our Blessed Mother is another teaching which comes to us by Sacred Tradition.
Who cares? Whether the pious traditions of the names, number and skin color or accurate or not, the reality that was recorded by the inspired sacred author is the same. The gentile world would be included in the offer of salvation. Pious traditions like that aren’t necessary to believe to be a Christian but they do at the very least lend themselves to our being led to even deeper insight and truths that come from the gospels.
Mark–“Who cares?” Educate yourself, and see. You will love reading your Catechism to learn more about our precious Faith. Sacred Tradition is not our everyday pious traditions. Huge difference. Sacred Tradition (with the first letters always capitalized) is the same Word of God passed down to us, orally, as the Word of God in Sacred Scripture. Read all about it, see for yourself.
Anon, I think Mark was saying who cares to Michael Dremel, not to you.
Don’t stop reading at “who cares?”