BECOMING STARS IN THE SKY - A: Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

First Reading: Isaiah 60:1-6 (8 January 2023)

“See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; but upon you the Lord shines and over you appears his glory. Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance” (Isa 60:2-3).

This is the Old Testament text popularly used to foretell the coming of the wise men to mark the solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. Indeed, the gospel of Matthew recounts that these astrologers were coming from afar to adore the infant Jesus: “[B]ehold 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’” (Mt 2:1-2). The star mentioned here may connote two things. On the one hand, it may point to the physical star that they themselves saw as stipulated in verses 9-11. Accordingly, religious iconographers present the coming of the magi as guided by a heavenly body that illuminated directly at Bethlehem, where the baby Jesus was laid. Even King Herod in the narrative understood it as such as Matthew recounts, “Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance” (v. 7).

On the other hand, the star may only be a metaphor of the function of the so-called Messiah, who was supposed to radiate over everyone for the liberation of Israel. This reading is corroborated by the content of the fourth oracle of Balaam in the book of Numbers: “I see him, though not now; I observe him, though not near: A star shall advance from Jacob and a scepter shall rise from Israel, that will crush the brows of Moab and the skull of all the Sethites” (24:17). While it is difficult to ascertain what this star means—most Christians refer it to Jesus, while Jews associate it with the revolutionary leader named Bar Kosiba (literally, “son of the star”) who led a grand rebellion against Rome in 132–136 CE—

the definite thing is that it is a direct reference to a human person, and not to an astrological body in the sky.

If the latter is the case, it can be said that a star can be anybody who radiates God’s goodness in his/her life. Obviously, Jesus’s overwhelming goodness shines over all the earth beyond borders, peoples, and nations. He is the light of the world as he himself claims, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (Jn 8:12). He reaffirms it as he healed the man born blind later, declaring, “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (9:4).

Epiphany manifests this light that comes from God’s beauty.

The whole world is saddened by the passing of the Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on the eve of the new year 2023. He died peacefully at the age of 95, almost ten years after his resignation as Supreme Pontiff on February 28, 2003. During these years of silence and solitude, he exemplified humility, holiness, and peacefulness. On the day of his death and at the liturgy of the Te Deum, Pope Francis was quick to point out Benedict’s most edifying virtue, i.e., his kindness. This kindness is reflected both in his papacy and in his retirement, where he maintained a courteous smile, a high level of patience, a sincere honesty, and a compassion for everyone. Pope Francis explained that this virtue can be realized by the frequent use of three phrases, viz., “Thank you,” “Excuse me,” and “I’m sorry,” which are witnessed as well by Benedict in his life of humility and gentleness. The latter did all of these because his life is a total dedication to the Lord. In fact, his dying words according to his secretary Georg Gänswein were: “Signore, ti amo” (“Lord, I love you” in Italian). The truth behind this phrase truly reflects his spirituality, particularly since his first encyclical is titled, Deus caritas est (“God is love” in Latin), while his third and last is titled, Caritas in veritate (“Love in Truth” in Latin).

As we bid farewell to this publicly renown santo subito (“immediate saint” in Italian), let us emulate being a star in our own Christian living, especially demonstrated by how we love.

- Rex Fortes, CM