And what about that star? Astronomers, theologians and historians for hundreds of years have been trying to determine exactly which star might have led the Magi to the stable.A more recent conjecture has come from a Notre Dame astrophysicist, Dr. Grant Mathews. The professor says that he had hoped the answer would be something spectacular like a supernova. But two years of research led him to a more ordinary conclusion - the heavenly sign around the time of the birth of Jesus Christ was likely an unusual alignment of planets, the sun and the moon.
He believes the Christmas star is probably an alignment of planets, the most likely of which would have occurred on April 17, 6 B.C., when the sun, Jupiter, the moon and Saturn aligned in the constellation Aries while Venus and Mars were in neighboring constellations. He makes that conclusion because he believes the Magi were Zoroastrian astrologers who would have recognized the planetary alignment in Aries as a sign that a powerful leader was born. In fact it would have even meant that the leader was destined to die at an appointed time.
I believe that the star in the sky over Bethlehem is the flare for us that God does and will continue to rescue us as His children. That star is our hope in this world of darkness and despair. The star in Bethlehem is our search for acceptance and understanding and peace. On Friday, I was visiting a patient afraid of surgery that she is having this morning to replace her pacemaker.
She said, "My whole body is bothering me. But the body isn't the worst part. It's my soul that has me worried. All this talk of side effects like dying from the surgery really scares me. I haven't been able to sleep very well the past few nights. I just lay awake like I'm watching a replay of my whole life as it passes before my eyes. I don't like what I see. I could have done a lot better with my life. I've been a religious person, I've been pretty regular at church and all, but I don't know.... something is just not right. I don't have any peace about it all. Actually, I think I'm afraid to die. I'm afraid to meet God. What will God think about a person like me? Does God's love include me? Am I included in God's eternal plans?"
The Epiphany answer to the question: “Am I included in God's eternal plans is a resounding YES!” Epiphany shows that Jesus came for all people, no matter what!
Life can be overwhelmingly dark, especially at some special moments of our history. Today I am happy and tomorrow I have a stroke. Today I am smiling and tomorrow a car hits my child. Today I am rich and tomorrow I am poor when my plant closes and I am laid off. Today I am a success and tomorrow a failure. Life’s little candles of happiness are so fragile and easily snuffed out.
But there is one light that is never snuffed out. There is one light that always shines in the darkness. There is one light that darkness cannot overcome, and that is Jesus Christ.
God prays for us as we reflect: "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.” (Isaiah 60:1).
Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends and new online friends who are searching for your light. Christ is our Star. As we try to navigate our ways through life, there is only one star that can guide us, and that star is Jesus Christ. Never lose sight of that star.
