Gospel: Mt. 2:1-12
May Your Light Shine
As we continue enjoying the season of Christmas and ushering in the new year, the gospel reading invites us to ponder another interesting story surrounding the birth of Jesus - the journey of the Magi - the wise men who followed the star that led them to the Child Jesus in the manger. This event commemorates God’s “showing up in our midst” in the person of Jesus Christ. God is revealed in person for all of us. In the birth of Christ, God comes to us not in terms of force and power and might, but in terms of love and peace.
God revealed himself to the Magi in a way that enlightens, surprises, challenges and even transforms them. A journey of faith that results in the radical transformation of the Magi. Yet as the journey progresses, they learn to discover that the God they were looking for would reveal himself not just beyond the fixed physical, geographical boundaries but also beyond the limits of our human preconceptions and prejudices. The infant King of the Jews is not found in a royal house amidst the powerful as they expected. Rather, he would be found in the midst of poverty and needy, wearing rags instead of robes and surrounded by shepherds rather than courtiers.
The destiny of every person is symbolized in this journey of the Magi of the East: our life is a journey, illuminated by the lights which brighten our way, to find the fullness of truth and love which we Christians recognize in Jesus, the Light of the World. The light that shines forth upon us today and through it, we must shine and illumine the darkness of our lives. Let us allow our light to shine on others, so that others can see that Christ illumines our way and life this New Year, with his own light and divine presence. By the example of the Magi, with our little lights, may we seek the Light and love one another(CARITAS).
Fr Kyazze Frank Lwanga
