Which Star Do You Follow?

Dec 31

On the feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord, we celebrate how God is revealed to the world, made man in a humble manger, breaking all our expectations. The world offers us comfort, wealth, and wisdom, but God always chooses another path. In the Gospel of Matthew, we are told that Wise Men from the East followed a star that led them to the manger in Bethlehem. Popular tradition has assumed that these Wise Men could have been astronomers or even kings from distant kingdoms. We don't know for sure if there were three of them, but we do know that they brought three gifts: gold, which represents the coronation of a new king; incense, which is the fragrance offered to the divine; and myrrh, which refers to the suffering Christ would endure for our sake, as myrrh was used for embalming.

But let’s return to our star, because those good Wise Men, whom we know as Melchior, Caspar, and Balthazar, followed a star that set them on their journey. Surely the road was not easy, and they must have faced difficulties, but that star became an intuition for them, which they turned into a purpose that led them to the greatest destination. There, they knelt before Jesus, representing how all nations, riches, and human wisdom are things that must be placed at the service of a God who chose to be born in a manger to be closer to everyone.

In my country, Spain, and other countries in Europe, Latin America, and the Philippines, Christmas does not end until January 6th. Every January 5th, children attend the parade in their city, where "Los Reyes Magos" and their royal court throw candies from their floats. At night, each child leaves their shoes under the window and places sweets and milk for Their Majesties, as well as water for their camels. On the morning of January 6th, they wake up excited to discover the gifts left by the Kings., A big family meal is celebrated, where the “Roscón de Reyes” (Three Kings' cake) is a must. This large cake, filled with whipped cream and decorated with candied fruits representing royal jewels, contains a small figurine inside. Whoever finds the figurinewill be crowned with a paper crown. There is also a bean, and whoever gets it must buy a new roscón for the whole family. It’s a truly sweet and fun experience.

But let’s return to our star. A couple of years ago, I too, followed a star, embarking on a journey that took me from Madrid to Salesianum School in Wilmington, DE, where I teach Spanish and share all these stories with my students. The journey was not easy, but I can certainly say that that star led me to be closer to Jesus, surrounded by a great community, and blessed by St. Francis de Sales.

In life, there are many stars, but it is not always easy to choose the ones that will lead us to a safe harbor. I believe that in the Epiphany of Our Lord, there is a great clue. We must present ourselves to the world with the innocence and humility of a child, pursue our projects with the same passion children put into writing their letters to the Kings, and enjoy each new day with the same excitement they feel when opening their gifts. If we learn to recover that gaze, we will surely recognize the star.

This Christmas, in my letter to “Los Reyes Magos,” I will ask them to increase my faith. Although I won’t be able to enjoy the parade in Madrid or the “Roscón de Reyes” my mother makes, I will enjoy every minute with my wife, my children, and my friends, grateful for all the many good things we have in life.