Follow the Star

The Epiphany of the Lord Jan 5
First reading Isaiah 60:1-6

Arise, shine out, Jerusalem, for your light has come,

the glory of the Lord is rising on you,

though night still covers the earth

and darkness the peoples.

Above you the Lord now rises

and above you his glory appears.

The nations come to your light

and kings to your dawning brightness.

Lift up your eyes and look round:

all are assembling and coming towards you,

your sons from far away

and your daughters being tenderly carried.

At this sight you will grow radiant,

your heart throbbing and full;

since the riches of the sea will flow to you,

the wealth of the nations come to you;

camels in throngs will cover you,

and dromedaries of Midian and Ephah;

everyone in Sheba will come,

bringing gold and incense

and singing the praise of the Lord.

Psalm                                                                            Psalm 71:1-2,7-8,10-13
Second reading                                                          Ephesians 3:2-3,5-6  You have probably heard how I have been entrusted by God with the grace he meant for you, and that it was by a revelation that I was given the knowledge of the mystery. This mystery that has now been revealed through the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets was unknown to any men in past generations; it means that pagans now share the same inheritance, that they are parts of the same body, and that the same promise has been made to them, in Jesus Christ, through the gospel. Gospel                                                                         Matthew 2:1-12

After Jesus had been born at Bethlehem in Judaea during the reign of King Herod, some wise men came to Jerusalem from the east. ‘Where is the infant king of the Jews?’ they asked. ‘We saw his star as it rose and have come to do him homage.’ When King Herod heard this he was perturbed, and so was the whole of Jerusalem. He called together all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, and enquired of them where the Christ was to be born. ‘At Bethlehem in Judaea,’ they told him ‘for this is what the prophet wrote:

And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

you are by no means least among the leaders of Judah,

for out of you will come a leader

who will shepherd my people Israel.’

Then Herod summoned the wise men to see him privately. He asked them the exact date on which the star had appeared, and sent them on to Bethlehem. ‘Go and find out all about the child,’ he said ‘and when you have found him, let me know, so that I too may go and do him homage.’ Having listened to what the king had to say, they set out. And there in front of them was the star they had seen rising; it went forward, and halted over the place where the child was. The sight of the star filled them with delight, and going into the house they saw the child with his mother Mary, and falling to their knees they did him homage. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh. But they were warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, and returned to their own country by a different way.

Reflection by Grace Madrinan

At the start of the year, it is but normal to hear “New Year Resolutions” from anyone. As much as I don’t want to make any resolutions of my own, I can’t help but think deeply about it especially when asked by friends. “What do I want? What do I want to accomplish anyway?” I want to pursue something that I am really passionate about, something that will change my life forever.

“Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” (Matthew 2:2)

For the magi in today’s Gospel, they came far and wide just to seek the fulfillment of the prophecy – that a Child destined to be a Ruler is born in Bethlehem. They knew exactly what they want. And when they saw the star, they followed to where it leads them “And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was”  (Matthew 2:9)

For the magi, they started with the passion to find the Child in the prophecy. And with a star as a sign, they were led the fulfillment of their search. I am thinking that it must have taken a huge amount of faith and perseverance to complete such journey. What if they are following the wrong star? The star could have been randomly be brighter that night. What if the star is just any ordinary star? Imagine travelling in circles and not going anywhere.

But I have to give it the magi in today’s Gospel, they believed the prophecy and pushed forward with the journey anyway. Because they knew what they want and they pursued it. There was nothing (or maybe I have not read) about the story of the lives of the magi after their travel to Bethlehem. But I believe their lives are forever changed by it. And it all started with a dream, a passion to pursue it and faith that it will be fulfilled.

Prayer

Dear Father, thank You for providing us with another year to pursue our aspirations. Teach us to be like the magi who had faith and endured the journey to find the Child Jesus. May our dreams lead us to finding Your glory. Amen.