Where are you going?

The feast of epiphany opens a new era in the life of the three “wise men”, “Magi” who left their Eastern region to follow the “star”.  That journey changed them.  Following the star sets a new beginning, a new year so to speak.  And they know where they are going: to worship the newborn King.  We can say without extrapolation, that is their New Year, New life’s resolution: follow the star and worship the new born king.

How about you?  Where are you going?  Do you see a star in the sky?  Something new, this year, that captures your heart?  Or do you see many stars, incapacitating therefore, your ability to follow the “right one”?  Your new year’s resolutions may not be worthy if they can’t help you see and follow “the star” in the Heavens.

“Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews?  For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him” (Mt 2:2).

With these words, the Magi, come from afar, tell us the reason for their long journey: to worship the newborn King.  To see (seek) and to worship.  These two actions constitute the essence of our Christian life, to seek and worship God.  Anything we do, think or believe needs to lead us to these two goals: see (seek) and worship God.

Maybe a good New Year’s resolution for you is to do, think, go, believe, smell, eat, hear ,touch, speak, believe…nothing else than what helps you “seek, see and worship” God.  

As one of the Church Fathers rightly noted, the Magi did not set out because they had seen the star, but they saw the star because they had already set out (cf. Saint John Chrysostom).  Their hearts were open to the horizon and they could see what the heavens were showing them, for they were guided by an inner restlessness longing for God.  They were open to something new.

The Magi thus personify all those who believe, those who long for God.  They become models of all those who, in their lives, have not let their hearts become anesthetized by the comfort of worldly pleasures.