Sunday Gospel Reflection
Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord
Matthew 2:1-12 | January 8, 2023
The Visit of the Magi
Josie Gonzales
” ‘Where is the baby born to be the king of the Jews? We saw his star when it came up in the east, and we have come to worship him.’ King Herod…was very upset, and so was everyone else in Jerusalem. King Herod called all the chief priests and the teachers of the Law and asked them, ‘Where will the Messiah be born?’
‘In the town of Bethlehem in Judea…as written by the prophet.’
Herod called the visitors from the East…sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and make a careful search for the child; and when you find him, let me know, so that I too may go and worship him ‘
They went into the house, and when they saw the child with his mother Mary, they knelt down and worshiped him. They brought out their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and presented them to him They returned to their country by another road, since God had warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod.” – Matthew 2:1-12 (abridged)
When I was a child, I would look at the night sky and wonder at the millions of seemingly little glitters around the vast dome of the universe. I was always fascinated just looking at the sky at night counting the myriad stars that God put there—a witnessing of His great power and glory. I always believed that somewhere up there was a heaven—a mystical dwelling place, God’s abode where His court of angels and other heavenly beings abound. And, as I thought deeper, a parallel world where everything operates according to His will, no ‘ifs or buts’ that we live with in this physical world.
Yes, the stars tell us a lot of stories of their magical and inspiring presence, and the most awesome is that which is found in the Bible: a bright star that appeared in the eastern sky when Jesus was born. The “Star of Bethlehem” was a sign sent by God to lead the Magi to the Christ Child.
Hindi ba nakakamangha at kahanga-hangang isipin na ang bituin sa langit ang nagpahayag ng buong kagalakan ng kapanganakan ng ating tagapagligtas sa mga kasalanan? Truly this was the Father’s tremendous work at hand!
Let’s pause, reflect, and focus on that eventful moment that led the three Magi—the wise men—who studied the stars and asked, “Where is the baby born to be the king of the Jews?”
In today’s Gospel reading, it is interesting to reflect on the star and its significance: King Herod and what he represents in our present society and the Magi who worshipped the Child Jesus.
The star is a beacon of hope. It is a shining light that leads us to a bright tomorrow, guiding us towards a new day: happy thoughts, smiling faces, and positive vibes. It is a sign of new beginnings as well as renewal: a ‘renewed’ you, me, loved one, or stranger from the pits of darkness and brokenness to walking with Him who brings the good, the glorious, and the heavenly. Let’s look at the sky and find that star: your star, my star that will free us from the ‘Herods’ amongst us, the Star that will give us the strength and resolve to fight our weaknesses, our fears, our worries, our hurts. Let’s get out of the box and embrace Him in total surrender…the Almighty is our universe. Alam ba natin na ang Diyos lamang ang ating mundo? Siya ang ating kaligtasan at ang ating buhay na walang hanggan.
The Gospel today describes a very upset King Herod upon learning about the birth of the Messiah. He calls the visitors from the East and tells them, “Go and make a careful search for the child; and when you find him, let me know, so that I too may go and worship him.” But, Herod was a deceitful man—he misled for his own gain. He was out to kill the Child Christ, fearful of losing his power once the true king, our Lord, was born.
Ang mundong ginagalawan natin ay hindi naiiba sa panahon ni King Herod. Marami ang mga ‘Herod’ sa paligid natin. Ilan ba ang kilala natin? Meron ba tayong kasama sa bahay, anak, kaibigan o katrabaho na isang ‘Herod’? Pagnilayan natin ito.
King Herod’s ploy didn’t work with the Magi who turned their backs on him. “They returned to their country by another road, since God had warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod.”
Like the three wise men, let’s be faithful to that miraculous guiding star by following and worshiping Jesus. It is our only saving grace.
The Gospel reminds us to be vigilant at all times, to beware of false prophets and teachers. They are wolves in sheep’s clothing.
The visit of the Magi represented by the star, King Herod, and the three wise men is the story of life. It tells us to seek, find, worship, and love God at all times, as the Magi did, so we may be protected against the ‘evil one’. Let’s listen to the small voice within. The Lord is within the deepest recesses of our heart and mind and soul. The Lord never gives up on us. We are His beloved.
A blessed Epiphany Sunday!
