Finding Jesus Following the Star!

Christmas Day

Monday, December 25, 2023

Is 9:1-6; Ti 2:11-14; Lk 2:1-14

Christmas, the most anticipated day for Christians, is joyfully remembered and celebrated through many symbols. 

Santa, his cane, bell, Christmas tree, lights, stockings, etc. are some of them. Among all these identifiers, the Star of Bethlehem holds a unique place within the scene of the Nativity of Jesus. 

‘The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light and upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.’ This verse from the first reading helps us understand that, with Christmas, the star symbolized hope and ceased to be a mere celestial object. Reminding Christians of God’s promise in Jesus’ incarnation, the star has come to acquire a profound meaning in Christian life. 

If the Star of Bethlehem is home to such rich symbolism, then it is important for us to uncover what it stands to mean, especially as it leads us to find the new-born King. 

The finding of Jesus through the Star of Bethlehem can be reflected upon in three stages. 

1.The Star of Bethlehem rewards the seekers. One fascinating detail about the star is that only the Magi – the wise men spot it. Herod and his allies learn of it and the exact time of its appearance only from the wise men. It is interesting to think that though the star is an object in the sky for all to see, its knowledge and appearance are hidden from Herod and his allies. What could be the reason? 

The wise men were known to be accomplished astrologers. So, they were not ordinary people. Yet, as eminent as they are, they are humble, sincere, and open to accepting the Messiah. Their wisdom does not prevent them from being humble enough to be open to the Truth at its revelation. The earnest seekers from the East make the long journey only to pay homage to the new-born King and present Him with valuable gifts. 

It is good to remember that Jesus manifests himself only to the humble, whose search for him is characterized by the utmost reverence and sincerity. The revelation of Jesus comes as a gift to the Gentiles, who are genuine, and not to the hypocritical religious leaders. By leading them to Jesus, the Star of Bethlehem facilitates their search for and discovery of the Lord.  

2. The Star of Bethlehem troubles the bad. The appearance of the star is perceived differently by different people. The Magi found the star, facilitating their search for Jesus. However, at the mention of the star, ‘Herod was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.’ 

What could have been the cause of their trouble? Maybe the mention of ‘King of the Jews’ troubled them all! Maybe they started reasoning this way: ‘Who is Herod if the King of the Jews is born? What will happen to him? When will he be replaced by the new-born King?’

Whatever their reasoning, we only understand that the star, which appears to be a rewarding sign for the Magi, becomes a warning signal for those who wield power to oppress others. When people with good intentions find their aid in the star, people whose intentions are misplaced sense danger in its appearance. For the Magi, the star is a compliment to their sincerity. For Herod and his allies, the star is a reminder of their wickedness. The contrast is clearly shown in the Bible. When ‘Herod was disturbed and all Jerusalem with him,’ the Magi ‘were overjoyed’ ‘when they saw the star.’ This is the difference between God’s people and those who are away from Him. 

While God becomes immediately accessible to those who are good and humble, the wicked and corrupt dread the workings of God. What happens to Herod reminds us of Mary’s Magnificat, in which the blessed Mother sings, ‘He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has lifted up the humble’ (Lk 1:52). 

3. The Star of Bethlehem leads to Jesus. The guiding star is known by its function: leading the seekers to Jesus. The Magi, in their earnest longing to find Jesus, did not have to ‘search carefully’ for Jesus, as Herod suggests. The star makes things easy for them. The Bible reads, ‘The star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.’ 

If we can imagine further, the Star of Bethlehem guided the Magi not just to Jesus but to the parents of Jesus, who are good and holy. The reward for goodness is nothing but goodness itself. Goodness is not an isolated gift because one naturally leads to another. That is what we learn from the Magi and their search for the Lord. 

There are at least three points for our reflection on Christmas Day when we follow the Star of Bethlehem to find the Lord!

1.Jesus is found by those who search for him earnestly. Just as the Magi had the star aiding their journey to find the Lord, we will find our ‘star’ leading to Jesus if we are sincere. A true search will be more rewarding and fulfilling. 

2. St. Thomas Aquinas said, ‘Whatever is received into something is received according to the condition of the receiver.’ We receive things not as they are, but as we are. The examples of the Magi and Herod and his allies help us uncover the difference. When the birth of the Lord is experienced as a blessing by the Magi, the same becomes a tormenting nightmare for Herod. It is not that Jesus cursed Herod, but he remained cursed on account of his wickedness.

3. Any spiritual good is not an isolated gift. A genuine search for it triggers a series of related blessings. If our object is the Lord, our journey itself will be transformed into a pilgrimage, and we will experience blessings all along the way. This is what St. Catherine of Siena meant when she said, ‘All the way to heaven is heaven.’ 

Let us follow the Star of Bethlehem to find Jesus! Let our journey to the Lord become a purifying experience so that the guiding presence of the star will be a ‘feast’ to the eyes as it leads us to our Redeemer! 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar