Magyar Egyház, 1990 (69. évfolyam, 3-6. szám)
1990-11-01 / 6. szám
10. oldal MAGYAR EGYHÁZ city called Saba where the people learning that we were Christians from the West led us immediately to a fair sepulcher. We were told that there were three men buried in led-crystal caskets. We saw the bodies so perfectly embalmed that even their beards and hair were visible under the crystal covers. We were also told that they were three kings who once, in ancient times, had travelled West to adore the King of kings. “In Saba, and later in the beautiful castle of Palasata I learned the story of the three men. You may have guessed, they were the three Oriental kings who had been led by the star of Bethlehem to our Savior’s birthplace. The story I heard in Saba and in Palasata was not taken from the Gospel of Matthew. You see, those people in Persia did not know about the Gospel. They only knew the legend of the three kings as originally told by the kings themselves as they passed through Saba on their return. “Their story” — Marco Polo continued and Rusticiano was busy taking notes — “was about the familiar one we know from the Gospel. The three kings started out to adore a certain king who was newly born. The three kings took along precious offerings: gold for him who was an earthly king; frankincense for him who was God; and myrrh for him who was man. “When the three kings left home they were told by many that they were led by an illusion and they would find nothing but perish in the treacherous West. And since the three men did not return for many years to Saba the doubters saw themselves justified. Yet, after many years Baldasar, Caspar and Melchior did arrive in Saba. They were asked excited questions: ‘Have you found the King of kings?’ ‘We have, indeed,’ was the answer of all three and there was an otherwordly look in their eyes. The people of Saba urged the three kings: ‘How was he, then? Was he young, was he old? Was he sitting on a golden throne? Did he have a mighty army? Tell us everything!’ “Caspar and Melchior looked at Baldasar” — Marco Polo told the story. “Baldasar was the youngest so he was asked to speak first. So he began: ‘We were told in Jerusalem that we would find the new King in Bethlehem. We followed the star which had led us from home, and went until it stoppen in Bethlehem over a stable. In we went and found a babe in a manger. A young couple, apparently the babe’s parents and some peacefully ruminating beasts around. There was but a single oil lamp in the stable and yet there was a radiant light shining. The babe’s face was the source of the light. I was looking and looking at him and then, suddenly, I did not see the babe anymore. What I saw was a young man of my age. His look was tender and his voice was gentle. I just cannot remember the exact words he said. But what I heard made me want to be good and helpful, to be wise and to be just. And I was so ashamed because I realized that I was a selfish and ambitious young man caring for nobody but myself who came to get favors from the King of kings. I suddenly felt I must change if I wanted to stay in his presence.’ “Caspar used the chance as Baldasar paused and began to speak. ‘My friend Baldasar must have had visions. For as we entered the stable I, too looked at the radiant face of the babe in the manger. As I was looking and looking, the babe somehow wasn’t there anymore. What I saw was a strong and mature man. Not a young one as Baldasar said but a strong middle-age man. Like ... like myself. His face was like iron, his eyes serious, his voice deep and strong. I cannot remember the exact words he said. But what he said made me want to be a righteous ruler, a seeker for truth, craving for the loyalty and love of my subjects not for their fear. And I was ashamed because I knew I was a cruel and a gready king who had come to the King of kings only to get more power. I suddenly felt I must change if I wanted to stay in his presence.’ “Melchior shook his snowwhite head. ‘It wasn’t quite so, my friends. I, too, saw the radiant face of the babe. As I kept looking and looking, my vision, too, changed. It wasn’t a young or a middle-age man I saw, it was an old man. Just like I was at that time myself. His eyes were clear like crystal and his voice was kind. I cannot remember his exact words but I know it made me want to be a father to my people and to crave for nothing but a clean conscience. I was terribly ashamed because I realized that I had always been a harsh ruler, I remembered the many orders of my royal whim which cost so many innocent lives. I knew I could not change those orders or revive the dead so I just stood there with a burning desire for forgiveness from the King of kings ...’ “This is my Christmas story” — Marco Polo said. “I just wondered, you know, if the legend I heard in Saba and Palasata wasn’t really true. For it wasn’t only the babe of Bethlehem they saw; they saw also Christ. And Christ is the mirror of God. In him we see what God wants us to be, and at once we also see what we truly are. And, oh, how we want to become what we are meant to be.” Silence fell upon the prisoners, only Rusticiano was diligently scribbling. And the dungeon wasn’t so dark anymore. (Based on a contemporary legend.) Andrew Harsanyi GENERAL ELECTIONS TO BE HELD IN THE REFORMED CHURCH OF HUNGARY Reformed Seniorates are currently holding their assemblies to nominate new candidates for church offices. By the end of September nominations will be completed, and by December 15 new officers of the Seniorates will be elected. New church district leadership will be finalized by February 20. The electoral assemblies aim at electing a full new governing body which is not commited to the past and will promote a renewal of the church. NEWS OF INTEREST FROM THE CHURCHES IN THE WORLD Reformed, Eastern Orthodox Theologians Cite Agreement on Trinity After meeting in Minsk (Byelorussia/USSR), Eastern Orthodox and Reformed theologians issued an interim statement of agreement on the ‘content of the doctrine’ of the Trinity, despite ‘different emphases in our approaches.’ They also agreed that ‘the reality of the faith in the Trinity is more important than speicfic theological terminology’ about it. [EPS] Three-Thousand Direct Descendants of Martin Luther Traced A Swiss newspaper, Die Weltwoche, reports there are about 3000 direct descendants of 16th-century German church
