Led by Star-light

~~~ Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord ~~~

~~Isaiah 60:1-6~~Psalm 72~~Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6~~Matthew 2:1-12~~

This fascinating story of the Magi
is only found in the gospel of Matthew.
Three foreigners travel to see the new born king.
Being kings themselves, they brought
with them fine gifts to lay before the crib.
The magi from the East arrived in Jerusalem
after the birth of Jesus.
They had celestial guidance; a star
led them to where the holy family was staying.
Jesus was the light in the darkness of night.

We saw his star at its rising...

...the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them,
until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star... 

We only think there were three travelers because
Matthew names three gifts...
gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Today there is still something about traveling
east to Bethlehem that draws millions of people every year.
It is a home coming of sorts; coming home to where
what we believe had its beginning.
The Holy Land will always attract both believers
and the curious traveler.
People I know who have been there say
they felt a sense of peace.

These three wise men represent all of us.
We all are on a journey to find Jesus.
We may not have expensive gifts to lay before him,
but we come just the same to pay him homage...
to knell before him.
We want to follow the star...his light.
He is the Light of the World...
The Child himself led these foreigners
to his crib by his light.

Whoever these wise men were being in the presence
 of the child Jesus profoundly changed them.
Somehow they were Blessed that day...
they were home...they were exactly
where they were supposed to be.
This is where they belonged and they were at peace.
They had no desire to return to Herod.

Being in the presence of Jesus
 blesses us with sufficient grace to no longer
have the desire to sin.