Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew 2, 1-12
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,
in the days of King Herod,
behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
“Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.”
When King Herod heard this,
he was greatly troubled,
and all Jerusalem with him.
Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people,
He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea,
for thus it has been written through the prophet:
And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
since from you shall come a ruler,
who is to shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod called the magi secretly
and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.
He sent them to Bethlehem and said,
“Go and search diligently for the child.
When you have found him, bring me word,
that I too may go and do him homage.”
After their audience with the king they set out.
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.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star,
and on entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures
and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,
they departed for their country by another way.
Epiphany
1) Herod: He is the figure of pride and selfishness, and when these two get together they end up destroying innocent people and attacking God Himself. You and I may fall into this many times, when we close in on ourselves and we even want God to do what we want him to do. We want God to be our servant. Arrogance and selfishness blind us so much that, in order to have power, we do not realize how many people we destroy and how we destroy ourselves. Do not end up like Herod, powerful but alone and angry. And what is the use of having so much if you have nothing, no peace in your heart?
2) The star: It represents light amid darkness. It’s the figure of God himself who accompanies and takes care of us. The magi realized that they had to follow the star along the way. They were going to experience difficult moments but looking up and seeing the star gave them security and guidance. That is what you and I have to be for others: a star that gives security and that can guide the path of many people, as no doubt there are many people who were and are a star for you. The key to this is that you look at your star and continue forward when you feel that your path is bogged down. And if today you don’t know where to go, look at your star. Let yourself be helped by people who shine, and I can assure you that you will overcome.
3) The Magi: They were great scientists, and they made it clear that science also needs faith. Today we celebrate science recognizing the implication and importance of faith. The greatest kneel before the smallest, but most transcendent.
You may have been thinking over and over again about different things in your life; perhaps all you have to do is kneel in faith and entrust yourself to Jesus. God appears in your life to fill you with his Holy Spirit so that you can offer him your treasure, your life.
Today let’s worship God like the magi and entrust our lives to him. He makes all things new.
God bless you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. And always remember that something good is on the way!
