The magi have been known for many things, but here they may be considered “wise” especially because of the way they understood their lives, and all thy possess, within the larger frame of God’s kingdom.  Like Herod, a part of us seeks to cling to what we have, but the magi call us to move beyond our needs and wants in order to be more responsive to God’s presence in our midst.  They remind us not to worship creation but the Creator, not the gifts of his world but the One who generously gives them to us.  In what ways do I make an idol of the things on this earth?