Gospel Reflections for January 6 2018
Wise travelers follow a star to Bethlehem…
Now we know how they got there. There is a new field in astronomy that examines the night sky not as it is now but as it was centuries ago. It is called Paleo-Astronomy and it has recently turned to investigate what was the original “Bethlehem Star” that guided the Wise Men at that first Christmas.
Several theories have developed and all tend to corroborate the Gospel account. (You can find more information at the popular website, bethlehemstar.com)
It is one thing to observe celestial events and quite another to derive some deeper meaning from them. The Wise Men could discern among the thousands of stars visible in the night sky, or the many Kings of the earth, just the one star that was important and just the right King to whom they should pay respect with gifts of Frankincense, Gold, and Myrrh. Perhaps that is why they are called wise.
They reveal the difference between education and wisdom. While a good education helps you learn many things, wisdom reveals which ones are important. Wisdom is the greater gift!
I am also sure 2019 will bring a flood of more economic analyses, political crises, complicated immigration debates, and perhaps tragically even more terrorist events. There may also be all the challenging events in your family or among your friends as well.
That is the time to seek and appreciate those wise people in your life who can help you make sense of it all and put everything in the right perspective. However, why not grow in that same wisdom yourself?
On the January 26th weekend, the new 2019 University Series Catalogs will be available. The new website will be live then for pre-registration as well. It will offer over 70 sessions that connect your faith with real life during the five weeks of Lent starting on March 7th. Sessions will be in the Ventura area and in the Whittier area at St. Bruno, St. Mary’s, and Beatitudes, and also at St Dominic Savio and St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower. This is a short but important time to grow in the same wisdom that guided the travelers in today’s Gospel.
The night sky is very different now than it was then …but the King remains the same. Decide today to seek His wisdom. It is truly the wisest thing to do. See you in the University Series!
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Dear Fr. Dave
When the Wise Men prostrated themselves before the Baby Jesus, is that what the priests do at ordination for the same reason? Is that not showing their wisdom to honor Christ?
Do we not pray with the same wisdom when we receive the Eucharist by the believing in the true presences of Christ in the form of bread and wine?
I pray for wisdom and understanding in this matter. Please advise.
God Bless
Jane
Good questions. When a priest candidate prostrates, or lays flat on the ground near the altar at his Ordination ceremony, it is actually a symbol of his own death. He “dies to himself.” Then he rises to be Ordained, but now only with the Spirit of God within him. All other acts of humility, such as kneeling, bowing, and genuflecting, are all forms of the same spirit of humility before God.
Dear Father Dave,
Your reflection today is (to use a cliche) jam packed!
Relating today’s science and discovery to Matthew’s account of the birth of Jesus and the star of Behleham is the equivocation of truth in action. It feels like static electricity connecting the past and present with utmost strength.
Then you toss in wisdom as a discerning element along the path of truth where often truth is hidden.
You’ve given us a great deal to think about, and I thank you with gratitude 🙏 and prayers.
God bless.
Kathleen
You are very welcome! I am glad you liked all the ideas, and yes, there were a lot of ideas in this weeks article!
I am a Court Appointed Special Advocate for a teen aged boy in the foster care system. He is having a very difficult time. I used your distinction between education and wisdom to provide guidance today. Thanks.
Larry
Timing is everything! I am especially glad my article helped this teenager.
To me, the star leading the Wise Men of the East to Jesus is a mystery. There are so many stars, how can anyone make any conclusions from them? The retrograde work in determining the state of the stars in the sky 2000 years ago is very interesting, but is there any new revelation about how the Wise Men were led to Jesus? It reminds me of the work that scientists and mathematicians have done to extrapolate backwards in time to understand the origin of the Universe–and everything. It is very good work but still leaves unanswered questions.
The only thing that is clear is that before Jesus there was no savior, and now there is. But to know Him requires faith. I suspect that it was mostly the faith of these Wise Men as much as their science that led them to Jesus.
Interesting comments. The website I mentioned in the article offers what I believe is the best evidence for why the nighttime sky at that time caught their attention. Faith and Science were not separated in those days. They understood everything was guided by God.
I think that the fear of the Lord and knowing where to find true happiness is the
beginning of wisdom!.
The wisdom of the Wise Men reminds us that God can be found wherever we
recognize Him.
Well said!
Beautiful commentary Father Dave!!! I believe the Bethlehem Star that the Wise men encountered with wisdom was a miracle star that led them to our Divine Savior!!! Millions of stars in the sky and one led the way!! A miracle star and with their fathfilled wisdom they follwed it in love!! and we must follow our Savior in love for He was found ,and needs to be beautifully revealed to everyone to fill our world with LOVE!! Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee it!!! Happy. Blessed New Year!! See you at our University!!! That is your star we are folowing in wisdom!!! and loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, franca and Dick
The wise still follow!
The star is easy as they followed the stars to travel and they would notice a different star in the sky. Their relationship to God is what I believe a testament to their relationship to God.
Well said!
How fascinating that there is a new field in paleo astronomy. I love how developments in science are substantiating many of the events written in the Bible. We look forward to the University Series as always. It has been an enriching experience. Hopefully we will see you at one of our local churches.
Yes, I will there the week of April 1st. The Catalogs will be distributed on the January 27th weekend. See you in the University!