And there are the gifts

When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. (Matthew 2:10 -11 ESV)

One part of the Nativity story that has held particular fascination for me is the visit of the wise men, also known as the magi. Luke’s gospel tells us that a very bright light appeared in the sky the night Jesus was born. Could it be that this “multitude of the heavenly host” appearing in the night sky lit it up so brightly that the stargazing wise men mistook it for a stunning new celestial body?

Luke says that after the heavenly choir finished singing to the shepherds they rose into the sky—and the wise men said they had seen the star rise. Could that have been the brightness that appeared over Joseph and Mary’s house? Why not? Angels seem to have been fairly regular visitors to this couple.

And there are the gifts. Now, gold I understand, but why frankincense and myrrh? These two resinous substances were more expensive per weight than gold and were gathered from trees grown in, among other places, present day Yemen.

I am not sure what Mary and Joseph could have used them for. Maybe they sold them in Egypt to cover their living expenses. They had to pay for their sojourn somehow.

So, the wise men came, worshiped, and after being warned by God that Herod intended to have Jesus killed, returned to their country by a different route. [1]

For by gold the power of a king is signified, by frankincense the honor of God, by myrrh the burial of the body; and accordingly they offer Him gold as King, frankincense as God, myrrh as Man. - St John Chrysostom

[1] Activated Musings on the Magi