St Matthew's Gospel is the only one that directly tells the story of the Magi. In chapter 12 of St John's Gospel, however, there is an account of Gentiles, believers in the Jewish faith, who had come to Jerusalem for the great feast of Passover. They approached Philip, perhaps because of his Greek name, and expressed a desire: "We want to see Jesus. Philip goes to find Andrew, another apostle with a Greek name. John continues the story with Jesus reflecting on his coming death, just as the visit of the Magi resulted in an attempt to kill Jesus.

Matthew's version of the story is a beautiful dramatized version, probably produced as an effective pedagogical instrument for catechetical purposes, in keeping with one of the distinctive features of Mathew's Gospel. Even today Matthew's dramatized version is well known. All of us remember the story of the "three kings" following a star to find Jesus and offer him their gifts. Not many remember or are so moved by John's more historical account of Gentiles desiring to see Jesus. What star invites us to look for Jesus? Do we truly "wish to see Jesus?"