The Epiphany

Did you know that The Magi who followed the Star of Bethlehem traveled an exceptionally long distance to pay homage to the baby Jesus? Some theorists said that they journeyed about 1,000 to 1,200 miles. Talk about endurance and long distance. That, by early Roman Empire standards and even modern categories, is incredibly far.

In training, runners can cover that mileage over a period of time, but not without battling pain and overcoming bad days. There’s tremendous adversity to handle to complete a certain mileage to be able to successfully finish a race. It changes the life of a person so much so that it is said that, “The person who starts a race is not the same person who finishes the race.”

In a similar way, I think The Magi who traveled an ultra-long distance, were transformed. Even more so, upon seeing the star and seeing the child Jesus, they were never the same again. It was the Epiphany of the Lord to The Magi and to the world. God shone the Star of Bethlehem and led them to their Lord and Savior.

NO U-TURN. Once you see the light of
the Lord, it makes a difference in your
life that you never want to go back
to your old ways.

This past Christmas, after another year of journeying life without my wife, I think I finally saw the star in the sky. With lots of praying and prayers from you, I was enlightened to see the joy of living in the present and leaving the past behind. My grieving may not get “done”, but my current situation can have a good outcome. All of us had troubled days, but those are now past and gone. God’s star “over the place where the child Jesus was” will bring us joy and hope for a renewed life.

Now the Magi, “having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, departed for their country by another way.” (Matthew 2:12). The Magi, though they were instructed by Herod to return upon seeing the Child, did not go back to Herod. Once you see the light of the Lord, it makes a difference in your life that you never want to go back to your old ways. When God shines His light to you, you will be filled with grace so much so that there’s no u-turning anymore. Onward forward ahead!

God speed!