Let Us All Follow The Star

< The Solemnity of the Epiphany >

My favorite part of Christmas is the various Nativity sets that represent the birth of our Lord according to different countries and traditions. At Maryknoll we have more than 100 Nativity scenes from all around the world representing different cultures: El Salvador, Germany, Philippines, and of course, Korea. At my parish in Masan, Korea, we had a very Korean Nativity set. In addition to Mary wearing a hanbok and Joseph dressed like a “yangban”, the barn had a traditional Korean thatched roof over which we strung a line of red peppers. At first a bit confused, people’s face lit up when they figured out, “아! 아들났군요!” (A son is born!) No one would mistakenly think Jesus was a Korean. But by presenting the birth of the Lord in Korean clothes, it means that Korea welcomes and accepts Jesus as one of their own.

Today’s Solemnity of the Epiphany recalls the event mentioned in the Gospel According to Matthew, when three Magi or “wise men” came from the East, probably Persia, or modern day Iran. This shows that Jesus came not just for the Jews, but for the Gentiles (non Jews ) as well. In other words, Jesus came for everyone. The gifts the Magi brought show they recognized this Baby as a king (gold), as divine (frankincense) and as a mortal human doomed to die (myrrh). They practiced what we would call “superstition”, namely astrology, and followed a star to the find Jesus, “the newborn king of the Jews”. The gospel doesn’t say they returned home as Christians. How could it? Christianity wouldn’t exist till after Jesus’ death and resurrection. But surely the Magi returned to their homes changed or transformed by their encounter with the Lord, so they went home “by a different way.” What about us? Who is this Baby to us? What gift do we give to show we know who he is. More importantly, how has our encounter with Jesus transformed us? What gifts did God give you? God also leads each one of us by the star of faith. Do we have the courage to follow?

배종섭 신부님 말씀