Sunday Meditation: Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh

Today is the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord.  I’ve had a number of posts on this feast and the subject of the Magi.  You can access past posts on these subjects here.    There are posts on the significance of the Epiphany as well as to its details.  There are posts on Fr. Dwight Longenecker’s wonderful book unlocking the mystery of these wise men, The Mystery of the Magi: The Quest to Identify the Three Wise Men.   And there are analysis of poems by G.K. Chesterton and T.S. Eliot on the subject of the Magi.  All well worth exploring.

Today I would like to emphasize the gifts the Magi present infant Jesus.  It is commonly understood that the gift of gold represents Jesus’ royalty, frankincense represents his priestly office, and myrrh His sacrificial death.  Pierre-Marie Dumont in this month’s Magnificat magazine (Jan 2026, Vol. 21, No. 11, pp 6-7) proposes we offer these gifts to Jesus today in the form of spiritual gifts.  The gold we give is our love, “gold refined by the fire mentioned in the Book of Revelation (3:18).”  The frankincense we offer are our prayers “that ascend to God as a sweet-smelling offering.”  The myrrh we offer is “our communion in the Passion and death of Jesus,” consisting of our sacrifices and offerings to the Lord.  I found that beautiful.

 

Here is today’s Gospel reading.

 

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews?

We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.”

When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people,

He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet:

And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.”

Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.

He sent them to Bethlehem and said,

“Go and search diligently for the child.

When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.”

After their audience with the king they set out.

And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.

They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother.

They prostrated themselves and did him homage.

Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way..

~Mt 2:1-12

 

Bishop Barron explains the traditional understanding of the three gifts, but he also connects the expedition of the Magi with a search for the ultimate fulfillment which is the quest to discover God. 

What is admirable in the Magi is that they follow the sign so that the longing will be fulfilled if we move in this direction.  “We’re the three kings longing for Christ.”  That is beautiful. 

I have presented pastoral homilies by different members of the Capuchin Franciscan Friars before in their YouTube channel, “A Simple Word.”  I have never presented Fr. Christopher Gama before, and here he provides an insightful homily.

We can only find God through the virtue of humility.  “Creation points out the way, and God finishes the path.  Grace builds on nature!”  It changes us and sends us home in another way.

 

Sunday Meditation: “They opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”

Let’s end with this lovely Christmas carol perfect for the epiphany, performed by North Valley Chamber Chorale:

I love this version.