The Magi and El Niñito Dios
BY ANDREW HANSON-QUINTANA | January 8, 2024
Sunday’s Readings
Although we’re into January, calls for the Santa book resound from my 2-year-old son during our bedtime routine. This was the first Christmas we felt he could grasp the concept of Santa, and we used books throughout Advent to hype it up. Our challenge now is transitioning to the Three Kings, which is an enormous deal in Puerto Rico, where we live in the rural community that raised my wife. Our community is especially invested in living out the cultural significance of the Magi as it has hosted a municipal-wide Three Kings festival for 40 years. Replete with food, performances, gift-giving for children, and other quirky competitions for the adults, it competes as one of the best of such festivals that take place all over the island over this holiday.
As one traditional song hyperlinked here connotes, the celebration is all about the children. Volunteers regale heavy Magi vestments and visit the children gathered in churches, malls, community centers, etc. The three bearded men bringing presents might seem to be banking on the success of the other bearded man that just flew in with gifts. However, the explicit focus of these wise men cannot be extracted from their story. They are here to pay homage to el niñito Dios. It makes me think that maybe my wife and I should have focused our conscientization efforts on the Three Kings rather than Santa!
Thankfully, I know that this year and for many more to come, the community will teach my son about the Magi who followed the rising star to find the Light of the World. He will gather hay to leave in a box outside for the camels. He will sing along with the traditional songs. He will look into the eyes of the men wearing clothes not suited for the tropical sun. All of these rituals will shine light on the heart of Christmas, enfleshing the Incarnation in real time.
What serves as the rising star for you to encounter the Divine Child and do him homage?
Andrew has been involved with Jesuit education since his undergraduate days at Creighton University. He has since studied, taught, ministered, and contributed at many other Jesuit institutions. He now lives in Puerto Rico with his wife and toddler and collaborates with ISN on communications projects.
What serves as the rising star for you to encounter the Divine Child and do him homage? This question reminds me of the time I taught in Miami Florida when the main celebration of Christmas was the three kings. Presents only came at this feast. The star as the decoration in the Church was bright and captured the people’s understanding. The parishioners focused toward that light and drew the graces from meditating on that star. The people were very genrous and wanted it to be a celebration with Jesus as the essence.
These are different times but the understanding of the Light of Christ as its essence is still the most important sign. My I continue to see Jesus Christ as the center of my life and attend to the needs of the children who so enjoy the symbols of this feast. The wise men become the wise parents they have; the trip of the Magi becomes our path: I will bring the Light of Christ to others today by my words and actions. Thank you for the rich symbols of this feast.
It has taken us many years, we have stopped giving gifts to our older relatives, asking “whose Birthday are we celebrating”, rather we give donations in their name. We do do gifts on their Birthdays also. The consumerism we see at Christmas is over the top. I see people going into debt buying gifts that are destined for the trash heap. We would rather emphasize our gift of time doing things with them.
Like I said, it has been a long process, but people get it. See you next Christmas Season
we put the Three kings behind the tree trunk and gradually move them forward until they finally enter the “barn” and see thehe Christ Child on January 6th.
interesting question from our 5 year old grandson: ” After traveling so long and so far, why did they only visit Baby Jesus for only one day?”
I hesitated but decided NOT to tell him about Herod using the Magi to find and kill the Christ Child.
we put the Three kings behind the tree trunk and gradually move them forward until they finally enter the “barn” and see the Christ Child on January 6th.
interesting question from our 5 year old grandson: ” After traveling so long and so far, why did they only visit Baby Jesus for only one day?”
I hesitated but decided NOT to tell him about Herod using the Magi to find and kill the Christ Child.
Every child in the womb is a new star that invites us to draw near and support the mother of the child, especially if she is single and left to raise the child on her own.
I prefer to think of the magi as women who would have certainly stayed more than a day to support Mary, the mother of the Christ child.
Felicidades Andrew – to you and your family! Que los Reyes los comlen de bendiciones!
He comes, comes, ever comes.