The Three Wise Men

One legend says that the wise men were of three different ages. Caspar was a very young man, Balthazar was in his middle age, and Melchoir was an old man.

When they arrived at Bethlehem, the three of them betook themselves to the cave of the Savior's birth, and they went in one at a time. When Melchior, the old man, went into the cave, there was no one there but a very old man his own age with whom he was quickly at home. They spoke together of memory and of gratitude.

The middle-aged Balthazar encountered a middle-aged teacher when he went into the cave, and they talked passionately of leadership and responsibility.

When young Caspar entered, he met a young prophet and they spoke words of reform and promise.

When they had all gone outside after going in one by one, the three of them took their gifts and went in together. And when they went in together there was nobody there but a twelve-day-old infant. Later on they understood. The Savior speaks to every stage of life. The old hear the call to integrity and wisdom. The middle-aged hear the call to generativity and responsibility. And the young hear the call to identity and intimacy.

Anonymous

January 8, 2006