A Star goes before us on the way

‘… When they saw the star, they were overjoyed (Matt 2:12)

Matt 2:1-12 (Year B: Epiphany)

The magi came to Bethlehem in search of a King.  There may not have been three of them.  They were not necessarily all men and we have no idea where they came from except ‘from the east’. The ‘gold, frankincense and myrrh’ were, perhaps, creative additions to the story.  There might be a link, in the word magi, to a religious caste known as the Medes into which Zoroaster was born. The key point of this story is that those who search will find and the finding is not the exclusive property of any caste, tribe or nation.  Following stars is a popular modern distraction. At best it is a harmless pastime. In ancient civilisations stars had a role in interpreting events.  ‘Everyone has a little star’ as the song goes.  Following stars is for everyone if they can identify ‘a star within’. It will guide to other stars and ultimately may lead us to Bethlehem – literally the House of Bread.

How do we know that we are on the right road and where are we heading anyway? Uncertainty and doubt might arise. However, the magi remained:

-       Calm (defying Herod’s orders and may be also disregarding the advice of those they left behind?)

-       Steadfast (watching out and beyond their goal though they could not see it now)

-       Active (as they kept moving onwards and onwards).

They had to make a decision perhaps months (years?) in advance to set out on a journey. They had to face dangers of one sort or another. But they kept moving towards their goal.  And on nearing their destination the star ‘went ahead of them’.

How did they know for sure that they had arrived? Perhaps they were not entirely certain though, as the story says the star had ‘stopped over the place where the child was’. At that moment they were ‘overjoyed’. Not just full of joy but ‘overjoyed’. Some translations render it as ‘exceeding great joy’ while others have as ‘rejoiced exceedingly with great joy’. Now if there is one thing that afflicts many people even in those well off times and places it is a lack of joy. Not that life cannot be hard …. But unless there is some joy at some point we are probably on the wrong track or we need to consult our compass and maps again (or GPS!).

The truth is that a little star shines in everyone – no matter how broken, sick or beaten.  That little star can lead us forward to great joy. How do we know we have arrived? We cannot be sure but a persistent, underlying and unvanquished peace and joy  remain through all the hardships and trials. Then we can trust that we are on the right track – broadly. And this joy is supernatural not to confused with ‘satisfaction’ when people go for shopping therapy in modern cathedrals known as shopping malls or when they go to happy-clappy meeting places.  Joy is to be found at home in the Kataluma (from Greek) – “the spare or upper room in a private house or in a village […] where travellers received hospitality and where no payment was expected’ as a biblical scholar has suggested. Modern day Churches including the happy-clappy ones can surely help to guide us but the Kataluma is in our hearts here and now.

However, a tip – the magi travelled together and not alone as separate individuals. When they arrived Jesus was in their midst as two or three or more were gathered in awe and joy. 

Let’s find our stars and keep moving onwards in the good company of others!