Three Wise Women

Every year after Christmas, we await the arrival of the three Wise Men bringing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, and the presepios will be complete when the three magnificent statuettes will be placed in front of baby Jesus. But let us remember that before the star of Bethlehem led the Wise Men to the cave where the baby was born, there were three Wise Women who prepared in their own way the road to the birth of Jesus: the Blessed Mother, St. Elizabeth, and the prophetess Anna, daughter of Phanuel. We refer to them as the Three Wise Women. Mary was the woman who believed. Her wisdom comes from the way she showed her faith ‘Thy will be done !’ St. Elizabeth was the woman who recognized. When Mary visited her in Għajn Karim, she recognized the presence of the Messiah, still unborn. ‘Blessed are you, and bless is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.’ The prophetess Anna was the woman who waited. When she became a widow until the age of 84, she stayed in the temple, praising God and fasting and praying, and waiting. And when she saw the Messiah, she started to proclaim His presence, being gifted for her waiting, and persevering in her faith.