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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.
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