Day 7: The Magi adore Jesus

Lord God, Almighty King: in your hands all things are placed. If you wish to save your people, no one can resist your will. You made heaven and earth and all that is contained in them; you are the owner of all things. Who, then, can resist your majesty? Lord, God of our fathers: have mercy on your people, for the enemies of the soul seek to destroy us and the difficulties that confront us are very great. You have said: "Ask and it shall be given to you. He who asks receives. Whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will grant it to you. But ask with faith." Hear, then, our prayers. Forgive our faults. Turn away from us the punishments we deserve and make our weeping turn to joy, so that, by living, we may praise your holy name and continue praising it eternally in heaven. Amen.

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem ² and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."

³ When King Herod heard this he was disturbed and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. ⁵ "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written":

⁶ "But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel."

⁷ Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. ⁸ He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

⁹ After they had heard the king, they went on their way and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. ¹¹ On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. ¹² And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

In the quiet dawn of Bethlehem, the Magi, wise seekers from distant lands, followed a star that pierced the ordinary night, leading them to the humble stable where the King of Kings lay in a manger. Their journey reminds us that true wisdom is not found in palaces or power, but in humble adoration of Christ. They offered gold for His kingship, frankincense for His divinity and myrrh for His sacrificial love, teaching us to surrender our treasures, our time, talents and hearts at the feet of Jesus.

As we pray this novena, let us walk in the Magi's footsteps, allowing the star of faith to guide us through the deserts of our own lives, through doubt, distraction or worldly pursuits. May we, like them, lay down our treasures at the feet of Jesus: our time in prayer, our talents in service, our hearts in surrender. In the Eucharist, in Sacred Scripture and in the quiet of adoration, Christ reveals Himself to those who seek Him earnestly. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to kindle in us the same wonder and courage, that we might not only adore the Infant King but carry His light to a world in need.

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.