The third pulled a small purse from his robes, the coins clinking as he set it upon the table. “You will find this useful in the months and years ahead,” he remarked with a sparkle in his eyes.

To the father their leader said, “Your son will be a great teacher and a healer of men’s hearts. When he is just growing out of boyhood he will insist on going to India to visit us and learn. Your natural tendency will be to hold him back, to think he is too young for such a journey, but you must give him your blessings when that time comes.”

Suddenly a large, lustrous pearl appeared in his hand. “On the day of his leaving, give him this and repeat these words: ‘This is a symbol of “the pearl of great price.” You must return it to the three who visited you at your birth.’ He will understand the message.”

From time to time, the child awoke and smiled contentedly as they cuddled him and sat him on their laps. His bright little eyes followed the conversation as if he understood everything that was being said and more.

When evening fell, the visitors said their goodbyes to the family, blessing each one in turn. The parents wept as they left: Their time together had been so short, and now it felt as if their dearest friends were departing. As the three men walked slowly down the lane, though they held no lantern, Joseph and Mary saw a golden light surrounding them and lighting the path ahead. When they closed the rickety door, they saw the same aura enveloping their tiny babe.

Joseph asked Mary, “Did you understand what they meant when they said our son would live forever and bless all nations?”

She nodded with a motherly wisdom, for the heart often understands what the mind cannot grasp. “Yes. A vision flashed into my mind of a group of people some two thousand years from now sitting together, talking and laughing just as we have this afternoon. Strange though it seems, they were celebrating our son’s birthday.”

Happy Christmas.

Nayaswami Jyotish

You can watch a reading of this week's blog here.