The Epiphany of the Lord – A
January 4, 2026 – 8:30am
Our Lady of Grace Parish, Parkton
Magi or Wise Men
So, if I say that Bob or Mike or whoever is a “wise guy,” what do I mean?
I’m probably saying that you always have witty or clever comments or ways of looking at things. That’s pretty much what we mean by a “wise guy.”
Well, the men in today’s gospel are not “wise guys.” Instead, they are called “wise men” or magi, to use the Scriptural word.
They seem to have insight into what’s important and they have something to teach us. I see five pieces to this story, and I will try to lead us quickly through them.
A Star
The first thing is that each of us has a star.
Each of us has had or has something leading us towards some goal. Today’s gospel passage tells about the magi following a star that is leading them to the newborn Christ.
Recently, two grandparents told me about their grandson who hopes to become a professional ice hockey player and that is his star. Maybe our star has to do with a job or career or creating a family.
The question is: will our star in some way be like the one that the magi are following? Will it in some way lead us to God or to become more fully the person God had made us to be?
A Journey
Now, to follow the star, the magi had to leave their home and set out on a journey.
This journey image is a good way for all of us to understand our lives. And this usually makes some demands on us.
It may mean that we leave our family home and go off to school. It may mean that we participate in a good Bible study as a way to get a fuller appreciation of our faith.
Seeing our lives as a journey can be enriching. So, what is the journey that we are on right now?
Hurdles
Then, notice that the magi have to deal with a hurdle on their journey.
Their hurdle is King Herod. Herod pretends to be interested in this newborn child, but the magi sense that he has violence in mind.
There will also be hurdles for us as we follow our star and make our journey. Maybe we will be tempted to quit when things get difficult.
Or maybe someone discourages us from following our star because we won’t make a lot of money doing that. So, what hurdles do we have to face on our journey?
Giving
Next, the gospel tells us that the magi give gifts to the newborn Christ.
Maybe this is a good test of the star we are following and the journey we are on. Does it lead us to be giving?
Maybe our giving is simply taking good care of our family. Or maybe we can give something of ourselves to God’s work beyond our family.
Like baking casseroles for Our Daily Bread or helping with our child’s basketball team. So, what are we giving to God on our journey?
Change
Finally, the gospel tells us that the magi had to change their plans.
After seeing the child, they are warned in a dream not to go back to Herod but to return home by another route. The point here is that getting close to Jesus may call us to change in some way.
In fact, change and growth seem to be what the star and the journey are all about. For example, maybe we are being led to see things more from the perspective of those who are different from us.
The differences between the magi and the shepherds in the story of Christ’s birth lead me to think of this. So, how are our star and our journey calling us to change?
In Summary
I guess what I am saying is that this simple, little story of the magi is really packed.
It is our story. It is the story of human life, especially of living life in relation to Jesus.
The star, the journey, the hurdles, the giving, and the change – all the pieces of this story probably reflect our own life experience. They may lead us to some fuller awareness today.
