The Fourth Wise Man
It is said that there was a fourth Wise Man, who also saw the star shining over Bethlehem and decided to follow it. As a gift, he planned to offer the Child a chest full of precious pearls. However, on his way, he met several people who were asking for his help.
This Fourth King took care of them with joy and diligence, and gave them a pearl to each one. But that was delaying his arrival and emptying his chest. He found many poor, sick, imprisoned and rejected people, and he could not leave them unattended. He stayed with them as long as necessary to relieve their sorrows, and then proceeded on his way, which was again interrupted by another helpless person.
It happened that, when he finally arrived in Bethlehem, the other Magi were no longer there, and the Child had fled with his parents to Egypt, because King Herod wanted to kill him. The Magi continued looking for him, without the star that had guided him before.
He searched and searched and searched... and it is said that he spent more than thirty years traveling the land, looking for the Child and helping the needy. Until one day he arrived in Jerusalem just as the angry crowd was calling for the death of a poor man. Looking at him, he could see in his eyes the brightness of that star. That unfortunate who was being executed was the Child he had been looking for so long.
Sadness filled his heart, already old and tired by time. Although he still kept a pearl in his pouch, it was too late to offer it to the Child who now, having become a man, hung on a Cross. He had failed in his mission. And having nowhere else to go, he stayed in Jerusalem to await his death.
Barely three days had passed when a light even brighter than a thousand stars filled his room. It was the Risen One coming to meet him! The Fourth King, falling on his knees before Him, took his remaining pearl and stretched out his hand as he bowed. Jesus took it tenderly, smiled, and said to him:
"You did not fail. On the contrary, you found me throughout your life. For I was in all those you cared for on your way. You gave me your life. Thank you so much for so many gifts of love! Now you will be with me forever, for Heaven is your reward."
The story requires no explanation... each of us is the Fourth King, and Jesus waits for us to give him, not a pearl but our entire life, and to find Him in every person close to us... Let’s try to find Him every day.
Video: