REFLECTION Sunday´s Gospel

Epiphany 2011 (2 Jan 2011)

Fr James McTavish FMVD

Follow the Star!

Journeys into the unknown have always fascinated man. Whether it be going deep into the depths of the ocean, travelling into space or hiking up the great mountains. A journey creates a sense of adventure, of intrepidation, of the unknown with its blend of excitement and even a little fear. In medieval times when the mapmakers were drawing up maps for travellers and adventurers they put a specific title on unexplored regions and areas - "Hic sunt dragones" which is Latin for ‘here be dragons’!

The Church today celebrates the great journey of the Magi, these astrologers from the East who arrived in Jerusalem searching for the newborn King (see Matthew 2, 1-12). What had led them on their long journey? A star. How gracious is God! He guides the astrologers with a star, he drew the fishermen with a miraculous catch of ...fish! God is so humble and desirous to help us that he stoops down to speak to us in his own language. One researcher ‘saw his star’ while looking down a microscope. Dr. Shinya Yamanaka, a Japanese embryo researcher, had a moment of conversion and saw the light looking down a microscope at a friend’s fertility clinic - “When I saw the embryo, I suddenly realized there was such a small difference between it and my daughters. I thought, we can’t keep destroying embryos for our research. There must be another way.” He then went on to lead the breakthrough in reprogramming adult cells to behave as embryonic stem cells, so that human embryos no longer needed to be experimented on or destroyed. Each one with eyes of faith can recognize many stars in their life. What is the star that has led you closer to God?

On their journey the Magi get waylaid and end up in the palace of the wrong King, Herod. He says he also wants to worship the newborn infant King. Following their encounter with Herod, who is like a ‘fallen star’, the evangelist Matthew notes “After their audience with the king they set out.” Those words ‘they set out’ really stuck me as the star can give us inspiration but what is also needed is perspiration! Many times on the journey we need to grit our teeth and start again our search. The Magi were determined to search for the child Jesus. If not they would have stayed at the palace of Herod, enjoying the trappings and comforts of the palace. It reminds me of the words of the prophet Baruch “If before you strayed from God, so now turn back and search for him ten times harder” (Bar 4, 28). God promises us that if we seek him we shall find him (Jeremiah 29, 11-13). If this is the case why does it seem that many do not succeed? The condition for finding him is only this – “to seek him with all your heart.” We can ask sincerely – do I seek God with all my heart? Am I trying to find him? In what way I am actually seeking for him?

There are many stars that guide the way to Jesus: the star of the word of God which is a bright lamp and shining light leading us to Christ, the light of the world. We also have the Church teachings (if we bother to read them!) For many, Mother Mary, known as the ‘star of the sea’, has guided many travellers through the stormy seas of life to help them find harbour and refuge in her son. So many stars to help us! Let us not forget the star of our conscience - the voice of God within us - “A man's conscience can tell him his situation better than seven watchmen in a lofty tower” (Sirach 37:14) The conscience is not simply a personal guide as the same Holy spirit that illumines my conscience also talks to the whole Church. That is why the document Gaudium et spes teaches us that the conscience is not only personal but has a social dimension too – “In fidelity to conscience, Christians are joined with the rest of men in the search for truth, and for the genuine solution to the numerous problems which arise in the life of individuals from social relationships” (GS 16). The magi are not searching individually but together. How great when others can join us on the journey and my conscience is not a closed shop but rather is open, searching, hungry for the truth. Looking at your life now, are you really searching for the truth?

Let us be thankful for this feast of the Epiphany and the example of the Magi who are searching, in motion, striving to encounter the newborn King to do him homage and adore him. May we not give up in our search. King Herod will be out to stop us and at times we have to humbly admit that we are no longer searching. If this is the case how lucky we are to have the sacrament of reconciliation to acknowledge our darkness and once again begin our quest. We are mere travelers on this earthly journey – heaven is our final destination. There are many guiding stars on the way. Let us recognize them and follow them with determination! Amen.