Christmas has always been a time of space and stars. It was in 1968, Apollo 8 on Christmas eve flew around the moon and took a picture of the moon. On Christmas day 2021 the James Webb telescope was launched. Fun fact: launches are always as close to equator as possible because the earth rotates the fastest and earth’s gravity has a slightly less pull. Today is a day of faith and reason, science and religion. The star: Jesus was said to have actually been born January 6, 7BC. Many believe it to be two planets Jupiter and Saturn, Retrograde. The Planets move and align and can be the action of the star seeming the move and follow. However, I also love what one of my friends who works at the Vatican Observatory said is that maybe God made something special just for the birth of his son!
Today is the feast of the Epiphany, Jesus manifested as God to all peoples. In a star to the gentiles, as miracles. Miracle comes from the latin word “mirar” it literally means to look at. God wants us to look at these miracles but not to stop there but to allow ourselves to be lead and guided. What is interesting is that God showed the Jews the place, but the gentiles were given the time. Time and Place together are draw into this mystery.
What’s more important is how they responded: When it was impressed on their hearts, they were ready and they responded. In all things they were pointed to Jesus. Jesus must be the final end of all our actions. They allowed themselves to be guided not to choose the path themselves that they wanted to walk.
Just having or knowing the truth is not enough, these men show us. Had they not set out the star would have just remained a star but in their journey it became the Sun of God.
Also just having knowledge isn’t goodness: Herod had the same knowledge and he massacred thousands of kids. Same is true with us: as Catholic we may have tons of knowledge about faith, so much is presented to us, we also know where the child Jesus is, but we don’t come to Church, we don’t come visit him in adoration, we don’t strive to look at the miracles the Lord puts right before us.
Also, at one point the star disappeared. No more light, darkness. Nothing deterred their journey. Do we set out so firmly to follow the Lord and do his command even when we know exactly what we should do? Darkness may come, the shroud of our own sinfulness and pride may cover us.