The Reappearance of the Star

Over the course of my years in ministry, I have lost sight of the star on many occasions. Those times in my life, when I have become so engrossed in the business of the world that I lost sight of my purpose and only focused on the ‘world’s plan.’

I believe this may have happened to the Magi when they arrived in Jerusalem. I think they got mesmerized by the spectacular temple and the magnificence of King Herod’s palace. The grandeur of the surroundings, after being in the desert for months, so captivated them that they lost sight of the star.

It is only when they left King Herod’s presence and set out once again on their quest did the star reappear. Matthew 2:1-12 ‘…they set out. And there in front of them was the star they had seen rising; it went forward, and halted over the place where the child was. The sight of the star filled them with delight, and going into the house they saw the child with his mother Mary, and falling to their knees they did him homage.’

Once again this is a mystery, a pattern for our lives. When we become caught up in the splendor of the world, invariably we lose sight of the star. Satan used this temptation to Eve in the Garden of Eden, and tried to tempt Jesus with wealth and power in the desert. Who are we not to be so tempted?

The challenge for us, then, is to recognize when we have strayed off course and lost sight of the star. The Magi’s story reminds us that it is never too late to reorient ourselves, to leave behind the distractions of the world and return to the path God has set before us. Like the Magi, we must set out once again in faith, trusting that the star—the guiding presence of God—will reappear to lead us to where we are meant to be.

This requires humility, as the Magi displayed when they fell to their knees in homage before the Christ Child. It also requires perseverance, as the journey is often long and filled with temptations to settle for something less than the fullness of God’s plan.

The delight the Magi felt when they saw the star again is the same joy we can experience when we refocus our hearts on God and rediscover our purpose. Let us remember that the star is always there, waiting to guide us if we have the courage to look beyond the world’s illusions and follow it faithfully.

As we begin 2025, let us once again recommit ourselves to following the star, on our quest to find the Christ Child and so fulfill our vocation.

Friends, we are back in the Caribbean. Once again, I appeal to those of you who can afford to, to seriously consider making a small donation to the maintenance and growth of this ministry. This year we plan to increase our evangelization with new and improved projects and we need funds to make this happen.

Like the Magi, we offer gifts to build the kingdom to counter the King Herods and their trolls.