Rev. Ann C. Fox
(508) 992-7081
UFairhaven@aol.com

Unitarian Universalist
Society of Fairhaven

The Fourth Wise Man

a sermon by Rev. Ann C. Fox

January 7, 2997

Note: A reading is attached, which you might like to read first.

One author [Ken R. Vincent] asks in the title of his book What Are Those Zoroastrian Priests Doing on My Christmas Card? In the biblical reading, you may have noticed that the Persian-looking men were referred to simply as "wise men from the East [who] came to Jerusalem." We also often hear the "wise men" referred to as The Three Kings, thus the title of the favorite hymn that we sang earlier: "We Three Kings of Orient Are." Perhaps you remember them from the religious education of your youth as Balthazar, Gaspar, and Melchior. The Christian world had a fascination with these three. In the middle ages, stories about them multiplied and expanded. In the fourth century, famous people, like St. Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine, went on a search for their tombs and found them, supposedly; their bones became relics that over time found their way to the German cathedral in Cologne where they are today. The biblical reading doesn't say how many there are but because there are three gifts—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—it has been assumed there were three wise men.

Why would the writer of the Gospel of Matthew have three wise men, or "magi" as they are referred to in the original text? After all, the Gospel of Luke has a different story with three shepherds. Scholars believe that Matthew introduced the Magi to add an exotic and validating religious aspect to the birth story.

"Magi were [almost] universally [highly] regarded at the time as being particularly wise, partly owing to their dedication to astrology, and the perception that Zoroastrians were always honest owing to their religion: hence, by [having the] Magi endorse Jesus as their equal [or higher] the author of Matthew was seeking to raise Jesus' own standing." (The preceding was from a section called "Gifts of the Magi" of an unknown website) The Magi were Zoroastrian priests, followers of Zoroaster, a sixth century sage who left behind a teaching that the one true god, Ahura Mazda, was the god of goodness and light; he had a counterpart—Ahriman—from whom evil and darkness emanated. "As part of their religion, these priests paid particular attention to the stars, and gained an international reputation for astrology. At that time, astrology was a highly regarded science, later giving rise to aspects of mathematics and astronomy, as well as the modem practice of fortune telling." [From a section called "Nature of the Magi" from the same unknown website.]

Zoroastrian priests were also known as kind and skilled healers, using their knowledge of herbal medicine to help others. Such men would not seek out a child of another race if they did not think that this child was a divine aspect of Ahura Mazda. Zoroastrianism is a religion based on ethics and being kind towards others. As Islam took over the Middle-East, the Zoroastrians were persecuted and fled to India. There are still hundreds of thousands of Zoroastrians today with half of them in India and half scattered throughout the world. They are often referred to as "fire worshippers" as a flame on their altar is the symbol of Ahura Mazda. Nowadays, they worry about their survival for intermarriage is common.

The topic of this sermon is "The Fourth Wise Man," a story written by a talented nineteenth century poet, fiction writer, and essayist Henry van Dyke who was also fascinated by the story of the wise men. In the introduction to his book, he tells us that the idea and story of Artiban, the fourth wise man, came to him "suddenly and without labor." Henry van Dyke studied long and hard and traveled widely to research the world of the Zoroastrian priests to fill in the gaps of the images and story he miraculously "received." This is a summary of the story.

Artiban, a high priest in the palace of the Persian emperor, gathered together his colleagues and said, "Hear me ... while 1 tell you of the new light and truth that have come to me through the most ancient of all signs. We have searched the secrets of nature together, and studied the healing virtues of water and fire and the plants....the highest of all learning is the knowledge of the stars. To trace their courses is to untangle the threads of the mystery of life from the beginning to the end."

"The stars," said [one of the priests], "are the thoughts of the Eternal." Artaban turned to his father, "My father, I have kept this prophecy in the secret place of my soul. Religion without a great hope would be like an altar without a living fire." He tells the group that three other priests amongst the Magi—Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar are waiting for him to join them. Artaban receives the blessings of the nine priests, sells all his possessions and purchases with the proceeds three great jewels-a sapphire, a ruby, and a pearl—to carry as a tribute to the newborn king.

Artaban knew he must ride night and day to reach the place of rendezvous. When he stopped at an oasis of date-palms, his horse led him to a wounded man, a poor Hebrew. Artaban gave him water but was reluctant to tend to him further for time was pressing, but the man grabbed his robe and wouldn't let go. Artaban prayed for guidance and after some time, turned back and treated the man with his physician's herbs. Finally, he went on his way at great speed only to find a note written by his friends that said, "We have waited past midnight and can delay no longer. We go to find the King. Follow us across the desert." Artaban was distressed for he thought it unlikely that he could catch up with them, but at least he should try. He sold his sapphire to buy supplies for the trip across the desert.

Following the star, he entered Bethlehem at last. It was the third day after his three colleagues had been there and "had found Mary and Joseph, with the young child, Jesus, and had laid their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh at his feet." Full of hope, Artaban wanted to find the house and offer the ruby and pearl to the king. But the streets of the village seemed strangely deserted. From an open door of a low stone cottage he heard the sound of a woman's voice singing softly. He entered and found a young mother hushing her baby to rest. She told him of the strangers from the Far East who had appeared in the village three days ago and how they said that a star had guided them to the place where Joseph of Nazareth was lodging with his wife and her new born child and how they had given many rich gifts but that the travelers disappeared again. Joseph and Mary had taken their son to Egypt for they heard that Roman soldiers were coming.

Just then, there was the sound of loud voices and swords clashing. The young mother grasped her child and ran to a dark comer of the house hoping her child would not cry out. Artaban went quickly to the door, filling it with his tall, broad figure and flowing priestly robes. The captain of the band appeared, blood dripping from his sword. Artaban said, "1 am alone in this place, and I am waiting to give this jewel to the captain who will leave me in peace." He offered the captain his ruby. The beauty of the stone mesmerized him and he gave orders to leave the house alone. Artaban prayed for forgiveness for his lie, and heard the voice of the woman, weeping for joy and blessing him for his kindness.

Artaban went to Egypt to search for the child. He searched in all the great cities and consulted with Hebrew teachers. There was great poverty and affliction in these cities and he spent many years tending to the hungry, the naked, and the sick. It seemed that he had forgotten his quest.

Thirty three years passed away. Artaban felt the weight of the years and was ready to die. He drew out the last gemstone, the pearl, and he saw that its iridescence showed also the hues of the sapphire and ruby. Summoning his strength, he decided to go to Jerusalem to search once more.

It was the time of Passover for the Jews. But many people were going towards Golgotha where they said an execution was to take place. Artaban knew that he had been guided here and thought perhaps he could use his pearl to buy the life of the king. He joined the multitudes going towards Golgotha.

Suddenly, a young woman was being dragged across his path by soldiers. When she saw Artaban, she tore herself away from the soldiers and flung herself at his feet. "Have pity on me," she cried, "and save me, for the sake of the God of purity! I also am a daughter of the true religion which is taught by the Magi. My father was a merchant of Parthia, but he is dead, and I am seized for his debts to be sold as a slave. Save me from worse than death!"

Artaban trembled with the old conflict. Twice he had consecrated to humanity the gift for the king. Was this his great opportunity, or his last temptation? He sighed deeply and laid the pearl in the hand of the girl. "This is thy ransom, daughter! It is the last of my treasures which I kept for the King."

Just then, the sky darkened and the earth shook. The soldiers ran away in fright. A heavy roof tile struck Artiban. The girl cradled his wounded head in her arms. They both heard a voice say, "Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as thou hast done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, thou has done it unto me." A calm radiance came over Artiban's face. His journey and his life were ended; his treasures accepted.

Here ends the story-a lovely one; not exotic, just simple and deep. Life is a pilgrimage, a journey that offers opportunities to help or not, the choice is ours. [Pause .... ]

What better way to end a precious season than with a celebration, a thanksgiving. Yesterday was the Twelfth day of Christmas, or Epiphany, a revelation of the divine. At this time, in Europe, especially England, in days of yore, people went from house to house singing and receiving rich ale and food. They would raise a toast of good health with "Wassail!" which means "to your health." And you would reply, with a raised cup, "Wassail!"

This year, may we have good will to all, happiness, and good health. Wassail to you and yours! [Dear Reader, We ended our service with the song "Here We Go a Wassailing," which we sing every year at this time. And then we go to the Parish House where a lovely woman annually has hot wassail ready for us (a non-alcoholic version, of course!)]

References

The following informed and inspired this sermon:

Van Dyke, Henry. The Story of the Other Wise Man, New York: Random House, 1984, a reprint.

Website of: pannir@dlshq.org. Other websites also, that are not specified here due to the difficulty in identifying them.

Reading: from The Gospel of Matthew 2:2-12

"In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising and have come to pay him homage. When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests, the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
For from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.'

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, 'Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.' When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road." Here ends the biblical reading.

You have probably heard the rest of the story that Joseph was warned in a dream to take his wife and child to Egypt to protect them from Herod.