LOOKING FOR JESUS

January 4, 2015 
Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord 
Isaiah 60:1-6/Psalm 72/Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6/Matthew 2:1-12 

On this first Sunday of January, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. We commemorate on this Sunday the manifestation of the Lord. God reveals Himself to all the nations. Three wise men from the East, Gentiles in the eyes of the Israelites, came all the way to Israel to adore the Christ Child. Jesus, the Christ Child born in a poor stable in Bethlehem, was the reason of the journey of the Wise Men, also known as the Magi, from the East all the way to Israel. 

Although the Magi were Gentiles, they heard the prophecies of the Old Testament Prophets about a king, the Messiah, being born. They also used their knowledge about the stars in order to track where this newborn king is born. In today's day and age, most people around the world (I don't know in the Philippines, though; we in the Philippines might have though.) use GPS (Global Positioning System) in order to find a certain location. I just thought that if the Magi had a GPS at that time, they would be able to go the place of the Lord's birth immediately. But, there was no GPS obviously, so they studied the stars in order to track where the newborn king can be found. 

The Magi visited King Herod in Judea, first. They went to ask where can they find the baby Jesus, the newborn king. The Wise Men came to Israel, not for King Herod, but for the Child Jesus. The intention of the Wise Men caused everyone, even King Herod, to be surprised. Although it was proclaimed to the Israelites by the prophets that the Messiah will come, they did not look for the star that would lead them to the birthplace of the Messiah. 

King Herod was also shocked. He wants to be the king of Israel. King Herod does not want any competitors for his throne. When King Herod heard of the Messiah being born, he views the Baby Jesus as a threat to his political kingdom. In the later part of Chapter 2 in the Gospel according to Saint Matthew, we would hear that Herod ordered every baby boy to be killed in order to be sure about eliminating the baby Jesus. This shows King Herod being greedy. He abused his power as king of Israel. He sees Jesus as an interference to his political ambitions. 

In the Old Testament, the prophets prophesied about the coming of the Messiah. The Israelites, in the Gospel, were familiar of the prophecy, but they were not interested on looking for the Child Jesus - the promised Messiah - in order to adore Him. Not even the scribes and Pharisees in the Gospel were interested in looking for the Christ Child. Despite their knowledge about the scriptures, they neglected it and were not interested in looking for the newborn Messiah in order to adore Him. 

When the Wise Men and Herod learned about the whereabouts of the newborn King, the Wise Men were sent by Herod to go and search for the child. Herod even instructed the Magi to return to him after the Magi found the Christ Child so that Herod may worship Him as well. But, in reality, Herod plots to kill the Christ Child. Herod wasn't willing to give up his throne to anyone who is deemed a threat to his political kingdom. 

As the Wise Men went to Bethlehem, they found the star again. The star that led them to Israel. The star that would lead them to the birthplace of Jesus. The reappearance of the star of Christ gave great joy to the Magi. After a very long journey from the East, the Wise Men were able to find the birthplace of the Christ Child. Christ, through the light of the star, led the Magi to Him. The Lord knew the intentions of the Magi - find the baby Jesus. The star of the Lord appeared once again and led the Magi to the manger. 

Finding the Baby Jesus at last gave great joy to the Magi. After a long journey, the Wise Men found what they were looking for - the baby Jesus. Despite the Magi being Gentiles, it did not stop them from looking for the baby Jesus. The baby Jesus was the reason for the Wise Men going to Israel, particularly to Bethlehem. The Magi's journey to Bethlehem ended with great joy. 

Let us look for Jesus. Just like the Wise Men in the Gospel, let us journey in search for the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus is the Alpha and Omega - the beginning and the end. He is the reason of our journey here on earth. We, one day, will return back to Jesus Himself. At the end of our life's journey here on earth, we will find Jesus once again. Jesus is the source of the great joy of the Magi and everyone. At the end of our journey here on earth, Jesus will give us great joy, if we look and search for Him with all our heart and mind, just like the Wise Men.