C: Epiphany of the Lord (6 Jan 2019) - LED BY A GUIDING STAR - Mt 2:1-12

The word “star” (“aster” in Greek) appears four times in our gospel today, in Mt 2:2,7,9,10; and so is the name “Herod” in Mt 2:1,3,7,12. The wise men in the east were guided by these two figures. On the one hand, the star was showing them the direction on where the prophesied baby who was destined to become the king of the Jews had been born. On the other hand, the current King of the lands of Israel in the person of Herod the Great was specifying to them the exact town where they should look, sending them to Bethlehem with the words: “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him” (v.8).

At first glance, one would conclude that both guides, viz., the star and Herod, were there to help the wise men. Both of them were actually complimenting each other. However, Herod had malice behind his offer of kindness, for earlier, we read “when Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him” (v.3). He was actually anxious that a rival to his throne had been born. As a matter of fact, historically, he was even very suspicious and hard on his own family members and successors to the throne. He ordered the execution of his sons who were threats to his power—Alexander, Aristobolus and Antipater—and, even killing his most beloved wife Mariamne. A saying that is attributed to Macrobius goes: “It is better to be Herod’s pig than son”. Such is the cruelty of Herod, but this was hidden in his sheepish advice to the wise men from the east to look for the child so he could worship him also.

It, however, takes a wise man to discern who among the acclaimed “guides” in our present society is the true one. The wise men from the east were able to discover Herod’s true motive through a warning in a dream (v. 12), and so they did not return to him anymore. In short, to recognize if our “guides” today are genuine, we should be attuned to the warnings we hear all around: the social analysis of political scientists, the critical reports of journalists, the preaching of pastors, the grassroot-observations of NGOs, or simply, the cry of the ordinary poor in the streets. They may not be the actual “guides” themselves per se, but they serve as warnings, directing us to pay attention to the signs of the times, and search intelligently for the true star. Let us bear in mind, that even the stars in the sky at night could be dimmed by the clouds that pass. We maust take heed at the warnings of those who had seen the star from their respective vantage points.

But stars may actually just be symbolic. They simply confirm what are already written in our hearts. The Church acclaims the Blessed Virgin Mary as the “Stella Maris” or the “Star of the Sea”. The wise men might have seen the star leading them to Bethlehem, but it was Mary who showed them Jesus: “And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him” (v.11).

At the end of it all, the stars may simply be what our conscience and hearts tell us to do, i.e., what our mothers have taught us as kids: to respect others, to offer kindness, to be courteous, to avoid fights and quarrels, to have good manners, and, to pray to God. I hope our politicians today will take seriously all our childhood learnings from our mothers.

- Rex Fortes, CM