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. Matthew 2:1–3
Why did God use a star to reveal the birth of the King of
Kings to foreigners from the East? To Mary, Joseph, and even the shepherds, God
sent an angel to announce the Good News. But to the Magi, He chose to use a
medium they understood—a star.
The Magi, originally a priestly caste from Persia, were
skilled in astrology, astronomy, dream interpretation, and other forms of
wisdom and divination. The three Magi mentioned in Matthew’s Gospel were
clearly experts in astrology, carefully studying the night sky. On the night of
Christ’s birth, they made an extraordinary discovery: a new star had appeared
in the sky. They knew it was a sign of great significance. According to their
beliefs, the appearance of a new star heralded the birth of a new king.
This star was not just a celestial phenomenon; it
symbolized the light of Christ breaking into the world, guiding all nations—Jew
and Gentile alike—toward the Savior. Just as God drew humble Jewish shepherds
to the newborn King, He also drew representatives of the Gentiles to adore Him,
for Jesus came to save all of humanity.
The divine initiative to include the Gentiles was not a
new concept but a fulfillment of a promise made to Abraham: “All the families
of the earth will find blessing in you” (Genesis 12:3). The prophets
and Psalms echo this theme, emphasizing that all nations will come to the Lord
(see Isaiah 2:2-4;
Psalm 67). In Jesus’ public ministry, we see His outreach to the Gentiles, a
mission that continued in the early Church, as recorded in the Acts of the
Apostles. At the time of Jesus’ birth, however, the Jewish emphasis was
primarily on being the chosen people. The story of the Epiphany reveals God’s
universal call to holiness from the very beginning of Jesus’ life, establishing
that His mission was for all people, not just for Israel.
Because of this universal call to holiness, we who
believe in Christ and live our Catholic faith must avoid becoming isolated or
insular, creating a small, self-contained world. Instead, we are called to live
our faith in a way that is welcoming to all and engaged with the broader world,
reflecting the universal mission of the Church. Being Catholic is not merely a
cultural heritage; it is the spiritual means of eternal salvation that everyone
needs. The word “epiphany” means “manifestation,” and Christ must be made
manifest to all, becoming the King of every soul.
As we celebrate the Epiphany, be open to the ways God
might want to use you to share the light of faith with those who are not yet
faithful Catholics. We must be like the star of Bethlehem, drawing others to
Christ in ways they can understand and accept. This is best accomplished when
we place ourselves at God’s service, ready to be used as instruments of His
grace. God alone knows how to draw all people to Himself, and when we offer
ourselves to His service, He will inspire us and use us to be that shining
light, guiding others out of darkness and into His marvelous light.
My Lord and Light of the World, You desire to shine
brightly for all to see, so that all may be drawn to You, the one and only
Savior of all. Please use me as You will, to be like that star over Bethlehem.
Give me wisdom, love, and courage to shine brightly, radiating Your light for
all to see. Jesus, I trust in You.
