By Father Andrew Kelly
Sunday’s Epiphany Gospel (Matthew 2:1-12) is the story of all believers. Through the grace of God a “star” stirs souls to such an extent that believers set out on a journey in search of the meaning.
The “star” eventually leads believers to the Scriptures as the wise people (magi) were led to the temple in Jerusalem.
The Scriptures can be treacherous and easily manipulated as indicated by Herod and all his learned friends. Are the Scriptures searched for the meaning of God? Or are the Scriptures searched to justify human behavior that might be quite contrary to what the Scriptures really mean?
But God’s “star” illuminates believers’ souls and leads to the Christ, the root and totality of the Scriptures. Once the Christ is found, believers are overwhelmed with joy and empty themselves of their very essences signified by the “gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Self-emptying is the meaning of adoration.
Once the Christ is found and takes over the souls of believers, nothing can be the same ever again.
The Gospel story simply ends with one of the great conversion statements: “And having been warned in a dream…they left for their own country by another road.”
(Father Andrew Kelly is pastor of St. Mary Parish in Mechanicsville.)
