We saw his star at its rising…
God puts on flesh! God brings light! What do we do?
The word ‘epiphany’ used in Greek indicates an appearance or manifestation. What does it invite us to?
Pope Francis calls us to walk into 2025 as Pilgrims of Hope, following the star rising in our midst. God comes into this world by putting on human flesh and showing us the best possible way to live our humanity! Do we see God’s star rising in our daily life to give us insight and hope?
God comes as human to know us and invites us on our pilgrim walk as God’s companion, loving us deeply, welcoming us into community with our sister and brother pilgrims, whispering words of deep love and comfort into our souls.
The star that guided the wise Ones to Christ also symbolises Epiphany, as well as the three gifts they gave to Jesus:
- Gold (fit for any king). The most valuable metal on earth, symbol of divinity – God in the flesh.
- Frankincense – an all-purpose medicine used to stop bleeds, to heal wounds, an antidote for poisons as well as used in temple worship, symbol of holiness and righteousness – Jesus giving himself as sacrifice for humanity’s sake.
- Myrrh – used as medicine, as a salve for irritations and for embalming, symbol of His death for the sake of truth, and therefore of Christ the Prophet – bitterness and suffering.
God has come to reclaim us. Humanity has become dislocated from its source of life. There is a hand reaching out to us to clasp and bring us home. Matthew (2:12) reminds us to return home via a different route…
Julian Tenison Woods wrote encouraging words to Mary MacKillop (9.9.1871) claiming “The end of it all will be that God’s protecting hand will be visibly seen.” Is that the star that guides us?
May we, as Pilgrims in this Jubilee year, walk our way home via a different route, keeping our eyes fastened upon the visible star light of God’s protecting hand drawing us forward into life. Christmas is over but our work is just beginning as stated by Howard Thurman. [1]
The Work of Christmas
When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among [brethren]
To make music in the heart.
May we carry our personal and unique gifts with us into this Pilgrim year ahead as we follow Christ, our Morning Star, on his journey to Jerusalem and beyond. May we come to our God’s dwelling place with hearts transformed through love and reconciliation and our lives radiant with hope, justice and peace.
Ann Morrison rsj
[1] Ó 1973 reprint 2011, Howard Thurman, The Mood of Christmas and Other Celebrations, Friends United Press Indiana, p 28