By Lissy Maruthanakuzhy
Panaji, Jan 13, 2020: The Christmas season has concluded and we move on with life to the ordinary time in the liturgical circle.
As I stand at the threshold of this new year, overshadowed by the gloom spread by our government I am reminded of a thought which impressed me. “The Lord does not light up the way at once. He lights up our path as we walk ahead,” said Blessed James Alberione.
The feast of Epiphany is a proof to me of this fact: This is what happened to the three kings as they followed the star to the home of the newborn king of the Jews.
Did the light lead them somewhere else they did not expect? Sometimes the light does so!
The Magi believed in the appearance of the star in the east, heralding the birth of a King. They were deeply religious and trusted their traditions. They thought the king would be born in a palace, and they directed the journey to the palace of Herod. In fact, Herod, the all powerful (he thought so of himself) was taken by surprise. “A new King,” he must have roared!
God helped the Magi, the true seekers of the King, to come out of the entangled meeting with Herod, and led them to the manger in Bethlehem. It was a tedious journey. Faith sustained them; a marvelous company of the three seekers of God, faith filled men, was a moral strength to each of them.
Yes, they kept looking for the star, and looking at the star. That was the light from above. They were prepared to follow any direction that the light of the star pointed out—through hills and valleys.
They focused on the star. And their consistent search was rewarded. They found the King of Kings in a manger- the Lord of creation, the King of the Jews. As they knelt before the Infant King, with gift laden hands outstretched in offering, they received more light to lead their subjects in the ways of God.
When we follow the light, it leads us from one insight to the other. If we look back in our life, we may be able to find such instances as how we have arrived at some clarity listening to the suggestions of a friend, or sitting silent before the Eucharistic Lord. We do not get sufficient light all at once, to dispel the darkness around us.
It might set us on a path, but the entire road map is not clear. Yet when we take the steps one after another, the road becomes brightened up. Every step ahead, every choice to be flexible, every response in trust, mark a deep change knowingly or unknowingly in our life.
Light builds on light, and we gradually begin to do things differently. Like the Magi, we take different routes because we can feel God’s hand leading us, and his light shining on our path ahead.
The light continues to shine on us as we take up mission entrusted to us by our baptism. Ever since his Baptism Jesus has been going out in to the world. First he did it himself. Then he sent out peter, Paul and other Apostles.
We are part of the world Jesus is going out to minister to. Today and everyday Jesus comes to fill us with the same spirit that filled him at his Baptism; the spirit that filled us when we were baptized.
Today he is asking us to march forth to bring peace and justice to the place, where we live, and Jesus is with us to help us out.
Follow the light that shines on our steps, one after another. Follow the star.