Introductory Prayer: Lord, you know how little I understand. I look to your Son for wisdom in my life that I might believe more and share more of you with others. Give me the gift to learn from my mistakes and the wisdom to know when to speak your truth to others.

 

Petition: Lord, fill me with the Spirit of Wisdom, which is the fruit of the life of your Son given for us.

 

Gospel:  Mt 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 stars 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.

 

1.  The Star Goes Before Us; We Follow God's Plan, Not Our Own.

 

God interferes in our life by sending a star. There are little normal things that God gives significance and power to send us down a new road, God's road. A word or example of something divine is shown to us at times. This is not a superstitious habit of seeing signs everywhere, but of recognizing when God has given something significance. This sight requires a constant conversation with God in which we are the servants ready to receive from his hand. It sends us on a quest to find him, the King of kings, to be servants of his will. But we will find him when and where we least expect it. The wise men followed the star because in their world they saw it as a heavenly power. They end up finding much more, they find the heavenly power. They find him in a manger, in earthly poverty, yet they believe, for God has shown them enough to make them see things in a different light. They keep growing in their understanding, and realize through a dream that they must not return to Herod. Having encountered the King - the Light - they let their path be illuminated by him.

 

2.  These Wise Men Go to the Place of Earthly Wisdom First, and Are Disappointed.

 

The wise men go to a king, to Herod. They find him unaware of the truth of a new king. However, God has not abandoned them, but rather is using them as witnesses so that all might be made aware of God's power.

 

They are sent ahead to find the King but surprisingly the people who told them where to look do not go themselves. God finishes the job, and the star leads them to a stable where they find the King.

 

A theme of John the Baptist comes true here, "Make straight the way of the Lord". The wise men go to Herod the king for knowledge, yet they find nothing; they go to the stable where no one on earth would look for knowledge, and there they find the wisdom of God.

 

3.  We Find Heavenly Wisdom by God's Tremendous Avenues.

 

Some read scripture and obtain knowledge of the coming of the Christ, but they do not go out to worship him. The elders and scribes, whom Herod summons to solve the riddle of the wise men's coming, understand where the Savior is to be born. Scripture told them that out of Bethlehem would come the ruler that will govern my people Israel. But by the wise men's coming to give homage they make themselves subjects of this new King and members of the new Israel.

 

They are wiser than they themselves realize, seen in the gifts they bring. God uses them to show us the nature of this King as they bring him gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These are symbols, not only of his kingship in the gold, but of the priesthood in the frankincense and of his death in the myrrh.

 

Herod is troubled. Though he delves into the signs, he is blind to their meaning and receives no wisdom because he seeks himself. He has no sense of being God's creature and someone who should serve others through his kingship. He is independent from God and thus makes a law unto himself in killing children to protect his interests. He has become like Cain, one who thinks he is not his brothers keeper. He has not encountered the Light, and remains in darkness.

 

We call the men from the East wise for one reason: they allowed the Light of the world, Wisdom itself, to guide them down the path to himself.

 

Conversation with Christ: Lord, send me your light so I might know the way to travel. So many times I walk in darkness because I live for myself and not for your kingdom. Transform me into your messenger to the world as you did with the wise men. Enlighten my interior so that though I walk in the valley of darkness I fear no evil, for you are with me, you are within me through your grace and your light.

 

Questionnaire:  This optional questionnaire is intended to help you examine your life in light of the inspirations God just gave you in these moments you shared with him in prayer.

 

1. Am I capable of seeing the signs that God sends into my life? Do I have a supernatural outlook, one that puts myself in God's loving providence?

 

2. Where do I search for answers? Where do I seek the meaning of my life? Do I seek it at all?

 

3. Do I live for myself or do I live for something greater than myself? Do I live for the Kingdom of God?