Today’s feast is telling us that for God there are no foreigners, no outsiders.

 
Reading: After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:1-2.
 
Good morning, happy Thursday, and many blessings my dear family.
 
Today (Matthew 2:1-12) is a wonderful feast in our Church calendar:  the Epiphany of our Lord!  Have you ever had an “epiphany?”  When was the last time you had an “epiphany?”  An “epiphany” may simply be a sudden realization or a moment of clarity.  Naturally, the epiphany this feast celebrates is the manifestation of Jesus as “king of the Jews” and of the world.
 
This Gospel opens the magi arriving in Jerusalem.  I assume their presence caused quite a stir.  They kept asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews?”  We read that King Herod and “all of Jerusalem” were troubled by their question.   Herod immediately called his advisers together and asked them where this “Jesus” was to be born.  The priests informed Herod that according to the prophecies in the Scriptures, the “Christ” was to be born in the land of Judah.
 
Herod then quietly called the magi in.  He told them to go and search for the child.  And when they found him, the Magi were to send word to Herod.  Herod told them that he also wanted to offer homage to the child.
 
We know the rest of the story.  The Magi followed the brilliant star they had seen at its rising.  Eventually the star led them to the dwelling where the Child was:  a lowly stable.  Can you imagine how astonished the kings must have been to find this holy Child in a manger surrounded by animals?  Yet, despite these very unusual and humble circumstances, the kings instantly recognized the Christ Child.
 
Today’s feast is telling us that for God there are no foreigners, no outsiders. From his point of view, all are equally beloved children. We all, whatever external physical or cultural differences there may be between us, belong to one single family which has one Father, that is also Mother, “our” God.
 
Jesus may be an infant, but we learn from Matthew that God is very much in charge. He guides the wise men by a star and warns them later in a dream. They are from the East, a sign that the messiah is for all peoples, not just the Jews. They bring highly symbolic gifts, gold for a king, frankincense for a priest and myrrh for anointing the dead – prophetic insights regarding Jesus for Mary to ponder in her heart.
 
The wise men did not know where the star would lead them. They just followed it until it brought them to Bethlehem, and to Jesus. Let us try to have courage and trust the example of the wise men to follow our guiding lights.
 
Blessings,
 
Luis+