Who are the magi who have come from the East? The magi are searchers, seekers. The magi are symbols of the restless human spirit. The magi followed a star in search of the whereabouts of the child king. The magi are ourselves who seek to find the meaning, the purpose, the value of our lives. The magi are ourselves as we seek to make sense of it all. When we reflect, we become aware there is within ourselves a longing for the spiritual dimension, a longing for God. We too are in search of the whereabouts of the child king. What or who are the stars in our lives that overwhelm us with joy because these stars lead us to Christ, to the mystery of God’s unending love for us? In celebrating this Feast of the Epiphany, may the story of the Epiphany be our story as well. Like the magi, we are seekers searching for an encounter with the Lord, a deeper relationship with Jesus in 2014. Like the magi, may we seek the help of stars that overwhelm with great joy in discovering the mystery of God’s love in our lives. The stars we seek are not to be found in the star but in the people who love and support us even in the midst of the struggles of life. We don’t need to go to the Bethlehem crib to discover the Christ child; we need only to look to the neighbor next door.
Today we are celebrating the Solemnity of Mary. It is actually a celebration of her motherhood. That motherhood began on the day she said yes to the Angel Gabriel and conceived Jesus. She has never ceased being a mother. She was with the Apostles in the upper room when the Church was born to bring the Good News of Jesus to the world. She has continued down through the ages and done in other nations what she has done in Mexico. Pope Frances tells us in his recent Apostolic Exhortation that she is the model evangelizer and that we are to both seek her intercession and follow her example as we the Church of today take up our responsibility to bring Christ into our world. For we all have the responsibility of spreading the Gospel to others. More than ever the world needs the Good News and the Church needs all its sons and daughters to be its messengers. During this New Year we will all hear this call over and over again from our Holy Father. We must not be intimidated or fearful. With our “Yes” we will receive as Mary did the grace to be Christ-bearers.
The life of Jesus begins with Mary at the Bethlehem crib. Therefore it is most appropriate we begin the New Year with a Feast of Mary – Mary the Mother of God. My suggestion, in following the example of Mary, instead of filling your plate with your plans, your resolutions for the New Year, simply try to be open for what God has planned for you in 2014. Live this year with open hands and a trusting heart. As with Mary, say YES to God’s plan for you this year. It may not be what you expect. There may be interruptions to our plans. But know this, God won’t leave us alone. May we pray as Mary prayed. May we pray each and every day – and not just to ask God for a favor. Seek to make your life a conversation with God. Listen and ponder in your heart what God has to say to you. God is speaking to you in all that is happening in your life – in both life’s joys and in life’s sufferings. They are all part of the conversation God is having with you. God desires for to ponder these things in your heart and to say YES to the plan of God in your life.