Gospel Reflections for Epiphany of the Lord, January 4, Sunday:Matthew 2:1-12 (Solemnity of the Lord's Epiphany)

Quotation:
"If you write for God, you will reach many men and bring them joy. If you write for men, you may make some money and you may give someone a little joy and you may make noise in the world, for a little while. If you write only for yourself, you can read what you yourself have written and after ten minutes you will be so disgusted, you will wish that you were dead." Thomas Merton


Matthew 2:1-12
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.” Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage. After their audience with the king they set out. 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. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.

My Reflections:
I would like to focus my reflection on the Magi and Herod. The Magi came from distant lands in search of the newly born Jesus. Their guiding light in their search for Jesus was the Star that would eventually guide them to Jesus.

We would see that the Magi or Wise Men were very persistent on their search they never gave-up until they found Him. Then, upon locating Him in a very simple dwelling with His mother Mary they offered their reverence and gifts.

On the other hand there’s Herod who was greatly troubled upon hearing that Jesus was born because he knew based on prophecy that this newly born Jesus is a threat to his kingship.

Relating these events with our lives: We too should be very continual with our hunger for God. The Holy Spirit (Star) is always there to lead us to Jesus. Every morning when we wake-up is a gift from God. Every morning also is a new dawn in our search for God. we grow in faith when we continuously walk with God, we grow in faith when we continuously search for God and for our faith to have meaning it should always be dynamically shared with others. It should not be enclosed inside the walls of our churches.

Like herod who was troubled upon hearing the birth of Jesus, there are those that seems uneasy whenever they hear the name of Jesus, I wonder why? Maybe they don’t have time, maybe they’re afraid that if they listen they will be jolted out of their comfort zones.