The Epiphany of the Lord, January 5, 2025
The Gospel of Matthew tells us that Magi, wise men, saw a star that was unusual, not supposed to be there. These men were astrologers who studied the night sky and who saw a start that was new. The night sky is supposed to be predictable and astrologers don’t expect new heavenly orbs, though sometimes the sky does present something new.
These astrologers believed that the new star meant that a new king was born, a king whose birth was important for the entire world.
It seemed mad to travel by night across the desert following a star in the western sky. But they did travel and eventually came to Jerusalem and went to the blood thirsty King Herod to ask where the newborn King was to be found. It seems to me that asking King Herod about a new king wasn’t all that wise. Herod was afraid of the newborn King and the prophecies that predicted a Son of David who would be born in David’s town of Bethlehem. Because of his fears, Herod had every boy child in Bethlehem killed, just to assure that the newborn King would die.
However, Jesus’ parents learned of the planned assassination from and angel and escaped as refugees to Egypt. Jesus from his infancy identified with poor children throughout history whose families had to flee war and persecution, seeking safety in a nearby foreign country.
What does this story mean for us?
First, in Matthew’s gospel the first witnesses to the Messiah’s birth were gentiles, signaling that the Messiah would not be for one nation only, but for all people, all races, all languages. The Catholic Church is universal. The word Catholic means universal. We are blessed at Saint John’s to welcome people of all races and from all places. We are a Catholic Church in the best sense of the world.
Second, Jesus, though King, is poor. He aligned himself with those persecuted and at risk children who are forced from their homes because of war, persecution or starvation. Throughout history the world has been full of refugees and even today, Jesus, in the guise of modern refugees, knocks at the door asking for safety and help.
In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus says that we will be judged on how we help or don’t help poor people. “When I was a stranger you welcomed me” “Or you didn’t welcome me”. Our salvation depends on whether we help or ignore poor people, including refugees.
