– by Father Bernadio
In 1895, Henry van Dyke wrote “The story of the Other Wise Man”, telling of a Fourth Wise Man called Artaban. Our hero is not mentioned in the Gospel because he missed the caravan. He got to Bethlehem too late to see the Baby Jesus. But Artaban did make it in time to save one of the Holy Innocents by bribing a soldier.
For 33 years Artaban searched for Jesus. He did not find Jesus, but all the while the Fourth Wise Man fed the hungry and helped the poor. Then one day in Jerusalem Artaban saw the “King of the Jews” being crucified.
He started to offer a pearl as ransom. But then he saw a girl being sold into slavery to pay family debts. Artaban gave his pearl to buy freedom for the girl.
Suddenly the earth quaked as Jesus died on the cross and a stone struck Artaban. Dying, he heard a Voice saying: « When you helped the least of my children, you helped me. Meet me in Heaven! ».
Artaban, the Fourth Wise Man, had been making God present in his community for years by helping others. God asks each of us on the feast of Epiphany to be a fourth Wise Man by becoming God’s Epiphanies, making His love present in the world around us by our acts of love and kindness.
THREE WISE WOMEN
While they were talking about the story of the three wise men, a woman asked her parish priest this question: « Do you know why God gave the star to the wise men? » When he professed his ignorance she told him –
« God knows men are too proud to ask directions. If there had been three wise women instead of three wise men, they would have asked for directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and given some practical gifts! »
God has a sense of humour. Good and healthy people have a sense of humour.
A child´s prayer: Lord make the evil people good and the good people kind.
Love and Laughter Peace,
Fr. Bernardino Andrade