Scripture Readings: Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:2-6; Matthew 2:1-12
There’s a commercial about naming a star for someone, you may have heard in past years…(Star-Registry)
Today we hear about the star that led the Wise Men to the Lord…
As we live our lives, at times God touches them through someone else like a parent, friend, spouse, or even a stranger. And they can act as stars in our lives. Guiding us in any number of ways. Hopefully to what is good, hopefully to God, and to all that is good and Godly!
And as we travel the road of life that led us to Jesus, like the Wise Men – what gifts do we bring to Jesus? Often, we speak on the Epiphany about the gifts the Wise Men brought to Jesus: gold, frankincense and myrrh.
But if you think about it, their gifts were not the most important gift. Rather, the most important gift was and is JESUS.
And their gifts were but a token, a symbol of their GRATITUDE for the gift of Jesus to them and to all people, for all times.
What gift or gifts might we give to the Lord today… tomorrow… in GRATITUDE to God?
Just maybe it might be living an increasingly Christ-centered life.
Our God, asks you and me, people made in his image, to be co-redeemers with him; leading others to Jesus, not only by our words, but by our lives of faith.
Once the Magi encounter Jesus, a new beginning started for them. They went home by another way and one can only imagine, how they were changed for the good. One can only imagine the stories they shared with all they met, all those years after, because of the their encounter with the baby Jesus. One can only imagine how others came to the Lord because of their witness of faith.
On this Feast of The Epiphany, may we be the Wise Men and Wise Women of 2016, who follow the stars set before us daily, by our God, and by the people and events of our daily life that lead us to Jesus.
And, just maybe like the Wise Men who went home some 2000 plus years ago… may we be the brightly shining stars of today who lead our families, our friends, our neighbors, and all we encounter this day and everyday to Christ our Light.