The Magi represent the gentiles, the non-Jews like ourselves, to whom Our Lord opened up the family of the faith. They were probably like scientists of their own time, searching the phenomena of the natural world for a deeper understanding of creation.

Science as we know it, began to take shape thanks to the Christian philosophy of the middle ages which saw it as a legitimate source of knowledge to investigate the way that the universe works, the laws which we can work out from that study, and the use of that knowledge to benefit mankind. Since we are discovering something that we did not ourselves invent, science can be a powerful way to lead some to affirm the existence of God.

We are not left, however, with a purely philosophical knowledge of God. He has revealed Himself to us by the prophets and teachings of the Old Testament, and finally in His son whose birth we celebrate.

The Magi offered gold, frankincense and myrrh. In the Mass, we offer what is declared by those gifts, Jesus Christ who is offered in sacrifice at the Mass, and received in Holy Communion. Like the magi, we should come to Him with exceeding great joy.