And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them,
until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star,
and on entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother.
There is more than a little coincidence that on Christmas Day, 2021, one of the most intriguing and complicated science experiments was launched into space to explore the outer regions of space. The James Webb Space Telescope was successfully launched into space from French Guiana, a joint venture of NASA and the European and Canadian Space Agencies. Replacing the Hubble Telescope whose discoveries astounded astronomers, the James Webb Telescope, if all goes as planned, holds the promise of unlocking the secrets of the Big Bang Theory and the beginnings of the Universe as well as discovering a planet whose atmosphere might be ‘just right’ for life as we know it.
There has always been something mystical, ethereal, cosmic and spiritual about the heavens. Not only has its immensity, humbled us down through the centuries but even more importantly, it has fired the human imagination, its mysteries beckoning our exploration.
No wonder, then, that on this Solemnity of the Epiphany, a celestial star plays a central role in guiding the royal searchers to the unexpected and utterly humble scene of Mother and child, cradled in her arms, her husband by her side. Power meets vulnerability and bows in adoration.
The Church down through the centuries sees this scene as symbolling-forth the in-breaking of God’s love in the flesh, that invites our humble pondering leading to adoration and worship.
All worship is rooted in praise and thanksgiving of the God who is the giver of all good gifts. No greater gift have we than the gift of the Father’s only Son whose arms are perpetually extended to us in unconditional love and mercy.
On this Epiphany, let us, like the Kings of old, lay before the newborn King that which is most precious to us, our very lives, surrendered in faith and love. And let that gift, we pray, be transformed so that we might be the light of Christ to a waiting world.