We Have Seen His Star!

Sunday, January 4, 2026

The Epiphany of the Lord

Is 60:1-6; Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6; Mt 2:1-12

The Feast of the Epiphany invites us to surrender before the majesty of the Christ Child. 

The feast reveals many fascinating details. 

1. The Epiphany reveals that Christ began to rule at his birth. Though Christ was born as a vulnerable child and placed in the manger, his rule is acknowledged by his visitors. The shepherds and the Magi come with gifts to worship him. While they acknowledge Christ the King from the manger, his enemies, like Herod, plot his death. This is why the Gospel describes that ‘All Jerusalem was troubled with him.’ A true follower of Christ takes sides with him. For the disciple of Christ, neutrality is not an option. 

2. It is interesting to read that the shepherds are able to follow their way to Christ, while the Magi, who followed the star, lose their way and land in the palace of Herod. The ordinary shepherds could follow the sign of ‘a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger’ (Lk 2: 12). But the Magi, the educated wise men, reach the palace of Herod, the very enemy of Christ. While the simple faith of the shepherd is rewarded with the manifestation of the Lord, it teaches that humility is the road to God. 

3. But we must know that the Magi did not harbour any evil intention to reach the palace of Herod. Not wanting to lose their way to the place of Christ’s birth, they go to Herod. The sincerity of their intention is seen when they take a different route to return to their country, though Herod instructed them to return to him with the news about the Child. The wisdom of the Magi helps them distinguish between those who seek Christ earnestly and those who plot his destruction. The true followers find the Truth revealed in Christ. 

4. The Magi reveal that their silent listening to Herod does not mean consenting to his evil schemes. By obeying the revelation in the dream that they should return to their country by another route, the Magi show real courage in the face of Herod’s hostility towards the Christ Child. Their courage not only defies the king’s orders but also manifests their faithful action on behalf of Christ. By refusing to side with Herod, the Magi show that their love lies with the Christ Child and not with those who plot his destruction.

5. The role of the star in leading the Magi to Christ is truly amazing. For this reason, it is rightly called the star of Christ itself. However, we must know that the star was not a private revelation, only to the Magi. It was there in the sky for all to see, moving in the direction of Bethlehem and guiding people to Christ if they showed any willingness to seek him. For the unwilling and indifferent, even a celestial sign like the star was of little help. Unless our hearts move along with the moving star, we may not find Christ.

6. The indifference to Christ’s revelation goes unrewarded. The chief priests and teachers of the law knew exactly where the Messiah was to be born. But they did not go to Bethlehem to see the Christ Child, like the illiterate shepherds or the Magi, the foreigners. It is sad that their knowledge of Christ’s birth fails to transform their hearts. As a result, they remain indifferent to the revelation that takes place in Christ. They become an example of the fact that religious knowledge without genuine desire will not lead us to Christ.

7. The Magi visit Jesus not to verify their knowledge about him but to worship him. Their visit is an unconditional gesture. Their action reveals what true humility looks like in action. Their knowledge and wisdom never impede their search for Christ and worship of him upon finding him. The Gospel text describes that they bowed in worship after finding Christ. Other translations hold that ‘they prostrated themselves before Jesus.’ The Magi teach us that true worship is always unconditional and generous. The Magi, their journey, their gifts, and their surrender prove the meaning of surrender and devotion to God. 

Christ reveals himself to us. Like the Magi, let us kneel before Him, our true King. 

Let us pray that we may be humble and receptive to Christ’s revelation to us. 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar