Children, this is Balthasar. He is an old man and a scholar. A scholar is a person who dedicates his life to studying. His whole life has been devoted to studying the sky and all the luminous bodies of different types and nature he has been able to observe in the firmament. Today we would call him an astronomer. He has been studying the cycle of the seasons, the sequence of day and night, and the way the moon appears to us in a different way every night. Men have always been interested in the study of the stars, the moon, the sun…
One night, he sees a bright shining star which he has never seen before. The following morning he talks with two other scholars who have always shared the results of their research with him, Melchior and Caspar.
Anna points to the other two statues in the nativity scene.
They have both seen that star and agree with him that it has never been seen before. They decide to try to see if that star appears again the following night. Night after night Balthasar turns his face to the sky with eager expectation. The star is always there, it becomes brighter and brighter, and it seems to indicate a precise place.
Every morning Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar exchange their opinions about that star until one day they find a reference to a star in the Scriptures. A star is mentioned to indicate the coming of a great King who can change the destiny of the whole world. This King should be born in Israel. The star seems, according to the scholars’ calculations, to be exactly over the famous town of Jerusalem.
They discuss for a few days about the long journey to Jerusalem. In their hearts they all know that they can't help feeling compelled to see for themselves the fulfillment of the prophecy. So they prepare everything they need for the journey, they saddle their camels, and they start, excited and, at the same time, amazed at their resolution to take such a long journey guided by a star when they don’t know exactly what they will find or whether they will find anything at all. And if the star disappeared suddenly? And if they fell ill during the journey? And if they got lost in the desert? They are not young people, full of health and enthusiasm. This star has been able to draw them away from their habits and everyday routine. On the other hand, they feel sure that the journey will not be useless.
The journey is long and tiring and they are happy when they see the city of Jerusalem in the distance. A few hours and they will be there, but where should they go to ask for information? The star has preceded them for the whole journey and is brighter and brighter every night but it seems to indicate a place beyond Jerusalem.
When they approach the city, they decide to go to the big palace where they know King Herod lives. He certainly knows if such an important event as the birth of a future king has happened. The palace is really imposing, majestic and incredibly beautiful. They are received by someone who leads them to a large hall and tells them to wait for the King. They apologize for not having announced their visit in advance and explain that they need to ask the King for information, and they won't stay long at his court.
They wait for more than an hour in the hall but that doesn't surprise them since they can't expect a King to be ready to receive their visit without any previous notice. Finally the King arrives. He is a short plump man dressed with great elegance and splendor. Balthasar looks at him while he approaches them and, he doesn't know why, he has the impression of a man who, beyond the regal appearance and the calm attitude he affects, is afraid of something and is by nature distrustful. Even if he smiles pleasantly when they introduce themselves, Balthasar can’t help noticing that he looks at them with suspicion and diffidence.
“We must really apologize for the inconvenience we are causing your Majesty by coming unannounced,” Caspar says, when the King has led them to a hall where they can finally sit down.
“My butler told me that you are looking for some important information I may give you. What is so important to bring such distinguished scholars to move from their country and come to Jerusalem?” He says in a light and casual way but his eyes gaze at the three old men as if he wanted to scrutinize their minds.
Balthasar can see that he is far from being the calm and self-confident man he wants to appear.
Melchior explains:
“During our observation of the sky, we saw a star we had never seen before that seemed to indicate a particular place not far from here and that became brighter every day. We studied the Scriptures, and we found references to the appearance of a bright star in coincidence with the birth of a new King in Israel. So we thought that a great event was taking place here, so great that it was announced even in the sky. But you must certainly be informed if an important personality is expected to be born these days, maybe a relative of yours or someone connected to your regal family!”
As Melchior is speaking, Balthasar observes the King keenly, and, from his attitude, he can see that he knows something of a star and of a new king but that the news isn't something he likes. When Melchior finishes speaking, the King is silent for a few minutes, and the three scholars start to feel rather uneasy.
Then he abruptly gets up, excuses himself and leaves the hall. The three men look at each other puzzled and perplexed. After some time, he comes back with an old man, who appears to be a scholar like them. The old man smiles and says:
“Esteemed colleagues, I have just consulted my books, and I agree with you, in the Scriptures there is a mention of a new King being born and announced by a star.”
The King interrupts him and says:
“Since you have come such a long way to follow the star you saw, may I ask you to continue your search here? Unfortunately I have not been informed of this birth, and I must say I am disappointed about it. May I ask you to come back to me as soon as you have found this newborn King, so that I can pay him the right homage that is due a regal baby? If you need to rest and have something to eat for you and your camels, I will immediately ask my servants to wait on you and provide you with anything you may need. You can stay here as long as you like.”
While he is speaking, Balthasar can see that he is really eager for any piece of information they can find about this newborn child but he is also sure that something upsets him, and it is not just the fact that he hasn’t been informed. His attitude towards the three scholars has also changed: from diffidence and distrust to great kindness, hospitality and courtesy. The three old men agree to stay but only to rest for a while because they really need it. They say that they will leave as soon as possible.
Then the King tells his servants to bring them food and to lead them to chambers where they can rest and relax. He also orders the camels to be cared for, and he takes leave, not before making them promise to come back to him with all the information they can find about the new King. He insists very much on this point that seems vital to him, and they agree that they will come back. They can't help feeling ill at ease in the king’s presence and sensing that beneath the surface he is not a good man.
When they leave King Herod’s castle, it is getting dark. Even if the King has offered to give them hospitality for the night, they prefer to leave that palace, so beautiful apparently but in reality so cold and unwelcoming. They decide to find a room at an inn and then to see if the star will appear again and what place in particular it seems to indicate.
The star appears precisely at the same time they have seen it in their long observation but it is brighter than ever before. They mount their camels, and they follow the light without exchanging a word. They are completely absorbed in their expectations: what will they find? Where? And if they have completely misunderstood the Scriptures and in reality it is just a star like all the others in the Firmament? Why doesn't the King know anything if the event taking place is so important? Why is he so afraid of what might happen?
They arrive in a little town not far from Jerusalem but, to their dismay, they don't see palaces or castles fit for a newborn king or prince. The houses are simple and modest, there are only a few people on the streets, and there doesn't seem to be excitement or celebration for a great event. They ride on following the star that seems to become more and more luminous and to point to the most shattered and ruined building in the village. It seems just an abandoned stable or shed with a rickety wooden door.
They are completely at a loss. Caspar says:
“I am sorry but I think we have made a mistake either in our calculations or in our study of the Scriptures. Certainly no King can live or be born in such a forlorn place.”
There is great disillusionment in their hearts but still... there is something that keeps compelling them to that shed. As they come nearer, they see a feeble light within, and they hear muffled voices speaking softly and the wailing of a little baby.
But what makes them decide to enter into the stable is the most melodious and sweet voice they have ever heard: the singing voice of a woman. She starts singing to the baby who is immediately silent, but the song and the voice seem to come directly from Heaven and not from a stable. The star seems to twinkle in time with the melody, and there is really a magical atmosphere in that forlorn place. They dismount their camels, and they enter the stable…
The first creatures who welcome them are not butlers or servants but an ox and an ass. All their expectations seem destined to be disillusioned... but... a young man comes to greet them: he is a handsome man, dressed in poor clothes but with a warm and welcoming smile, very different from the cold and affected smirk on the king’s face. He is not embarrassed and simply says:
“Hello, are you looking for someone? Here there are only my wife, my little baby and me.”
The three scholars look past him, and they see a vision they will never forget: the most beautiful young woman with a tiny little baby in her arms. Balthasar has no great experience with children, but he judges the baby to be a few days old. The scene is disarmingly simple, far from what they expected to find, but without looking at each other, without doubting for a second, they come forward, and they kneel before that woman and that child. In their hearts they know that, even if they are not in a palace, even if the man and the woman are not dressed in regal clothes, they are in the presence of what the Scriptures have predicted.
“We are three scholars, our names are Balthasar, Melchior and Caspar. We have followed the star, and we have come to pay homage to the newborn King of Israel whose birth was announced in the Scriptures.” Balthasar says.
“We have brought some gifts from our country far away in the Orient...” while they are offering them their gifts of gold, incense and mirrah, Balthasar thinks that a poor family would need different things, but the man and the woman take the gifts with great kindness. The woman doesn't seem embarrassed or puzzled at their greeting, as if she knew that her little baby is a king. She simply holds the baby in her arms so that they can see Him.
The little baby is sleeping peacefully in his mother’s arms but he emanates such a sense of serenity, tranquility, composure that the three old men can’t take their eyes off him.
As they are preparing to leave, the young man says:
“You have been so kind and generous to come to visit us, let me introduce my wife Maria and my baby Jesus. My name is Joseph. We come from Nazareth in the North, but we had to come here for the census, unfortunately just at the moment Jesus was due to be born. We expect to go back to Nazareth in a few days. Thank you for your visit and for your precious gifts.”
The three scholars are speechless, they just bow and leave in silence. They don't speak as they ride back to the inn, they are almost afraid that any word would break the sense of peace and serenity that seems to envelop them.
The following morning they realize that they have had the same dream during the night, or better, they have had a vision of an angel telling them to go straight home without stopping at King Herod’s palace. To tell the truth, they are not looking forward to seeing the king once more. They reflect that maybe, if they told him they have found a young couple and a baby in a stable, he would laugh at them and think they certainly have not found anyone important.
So they saddle their camels and start their journey back home.
“Was it Angel Gabriel who told them not to go back to Herod's castle?” Giulia asked.
“Yes, darling, I have already told you that Angel Gabriel was protecting Maria, Joseph and little Jesus.”
“But did Herod want to kill Jesus? Was Herod so wicked?” Mario asked with wide eyes.
“Yes, Mario. Herod was very bad. He didn't want anyone to become king in his place, and he even ordered all the children in the country to be killed, in order to get rid of Jesus.”
Giulia said:
“But, if they killed all the children, why didn't they kill Jesus?”
“Angel Gabriel went to Joseph and told him to run away with Maria and the child. They went to Egypt and they came back when there was no more danger.”
“Angel Gabriel is a little like Neil!” Mario said enthusiastically, thinking of his volleyball coach, who was also the Chief Inspector in their town. “If Neil had been there, he would have arrested Herod before he killed the children, I am sure.”
Anna couldn't help smiling at the genuine admiration of Mario and the other children for their hero, Neil, who had arrived a few months ago after receiving a special award from the Governor for his courage. He had immediately conquered the affection and trust of the whole town, and he had gained a special place in Anna's heart.
The doorbell rang, and Anna went to let Silvia and Mark in. While the children were putting on their coats, Mario asked:
“Are there still stories, granny? Can we come tomorrow after volleyball practice?”
“Of course, I want to tell you the story of one of my favorite characters and the protector of Canada, Joseph!”
The children left, after kissing their grandmother affectionately.
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