{"id":7776,"date":"2015-01-05T00:21:26","date_gmt":"2015-01-05T05:21:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gornahoor.net\/?p=7776"},"modified":"2022-01-04T22:35:21","modified_gmt":"2022-01-05T03:35:21","slug":"revelation-to-the-wise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gornahoor.net\/?p=7776","title":{"rendered":"Revelation to the Wise"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\"Magi\"
\n<\/a><\/figure>\n

\nRevelation presupposes emptiness — space put at its disposal — in order to manifest itself. This is why it is necessary to renounce. ~ Valentin Tomberg<\/strong><\/p>\n

The concept of first-born takes on a cosmic dimension. Christ, the incarnate Son, is God\u2019s first thought, preceding all creation, which is ordered toward him and proceeds from him. He is both the beginning and the goal of the new creation. ~ Joseph Ratzinger<\/strong>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Historical Background<\/h2>\n

Balaam was a pagan soothsayer, quoted in the Bible. He would have used auguries to come to his prophecies. This is what he prophesied about Israel:<\/p>\n

\nI see him, but not now; I behold him, but not nigh: a star shall come forth out of Jacob and a scepter shall rise out of Israel (Num 24:17)\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This prophecy about a star and a king was known to other nations outside Israel. Some of them may have pondered about the new \u201cking of the Jews\u201d and how to recognize him. The point here is that boundaries were not as strict as we may assume today. A pagan, since he was quoted in the Bible, had a divine revelation. Although Fr. Ratzinger does not mention this, there are parallels between Zoroaster and Moses<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Magi<\/h2>\n

Feast of the Epiphany, January 6. In “King of the World”, Rene Guenon<\/strong> writes:<\/p>\n

\nNow it can be revealed that these mysterious personages represent in truth nothing other than the three leaders of Agarttha. The Mahanga offers gold to Christ and hails him as King; the Mahatma, offering incense, greets him as Priest; and the Brahatma, greeting him as Prophet, proffers myrrh.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Magi were from the \u201cland of sunrise\u201d, i.e., the East. They were members of the Persian priestly caste, presumably the Zoroastrian religion. The Magi were also the teachers of the Greek philosophers. Aristotle mentioned the Magi, and he believed the Hebrews originated in India where they were called \u201cKalani\u201d.<\/p>\n

On the one hand, the Magi were seekers of truth. On the other hand, they could also be the possessors of supernatural knowledge who used their powers to deceive and seduce (See Acts 13:10.) This reflects the difference between sacred magic and personal magic. (See Letter V, The Pope.) The Magi of Matthew\u2019s Gospel are of the former type and use \u201creligious and philosophical wisdom as an incentive to set off in the right direction, it is the wisdom that ultimately leads people to Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wisdom<\/h2>\n

Besides Baalam\u2019s prophecy, according to Tacitus and Suetonius there was speculation at that time that the ruler of the world would emerge from Judah. Fr. Ratzinger speculates about the Magi:<\/p>\n

\nThey were people of inner unrest, people of hope, people on the lookout for the true star of salvation. The men of whom Matthew speaks were not just astronomers. They were \u201cwise\u201d. They represent the inner dynamic of religion toward self-transcendence, which involves a search for truth, a search for the true God and hence \u201cphilosophy\u201d in the original sense of the word. Wisdom, then, serves to purify the message of science: the rationality of that message does not remain at the level of intellectual knowledge, but seeks understanding in its fullness and so raises reason to its loftiest possibilities.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Pope Leo XIII, in the Encyclical On the Nature of Human Liberty<\/em> (Libertas Praestantissimum<\/em>), describes the qualities of the wise man:<\/p>\n

\nEven the heathen philosophers clearly recognized this truth, especially they who held that the wise man alone is free; and by the term \u201cwise man\u201d was meant, as is well known, the man trained to live in accordance with his nature, that is, in justice and virtue.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We have seen revelation in various guises. There was the revelation to Mary who was sinless, to Joseph who was just, and to the Shepherds, who were spiritually poor and watchful. Finally, we have the revelation to the intelligent, beautifully expressed. Fr. Ratzinger shows us the proper use of intelligence. This is how he described the qualities of God:<\/p>\n

\nWe may not ascribe to God anything nonsensical or irrational, or anything that contradicts His creation.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So to become more God-like, we need to strive to be sensible, rational, and consistent. Pace<\/em> certain irrationalists and fideists, the true religion is not irrational, although it transcends reason. Rene Guenon asserts nothing different.<\/p>\n

Fr. Ratzinger makes some important affirmations. The Magi represent certain types, from which he concludes:<\/p>\n