Finding Jesus

 

Matthew 2: 1-12

The Magi Visit the Messiah

2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem ² and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

³ When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. ⁵ “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

⁶ “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
    who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

⁷ Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. ⁸ He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

⁹ After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. ¹¹ On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. ¹² And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

For centuries the story of the Magi has inspired followers of Jesus who want a closer relationship with him, no matter how long it takes. Their journey, guided by the star, the Light of the Gospel, might bring them in many directions and find them asking for help along the way, but once they find him, worship him and gift him with the best they have, they return to living their lives now a different way, changed forever by their encounter with the Child Jesus, the Risen Jesus, the Savior.  May we never falter nor abandon our journey to Bethlehem, guided by the great star of the Scriptures, teachers, and the Holy Spirit himself.

Bro. Rene 

Almighty God, on this feast of Epiphany may all Christians remember their consecration to a life of holiness and so live their lives in imitation of your Son. May his light be revealed to every people and every nation. We ask this in his name. Amen. 

Rev. Bob Loughery, C.S.C.