Today is the Feast of Epiphany, which means the manifestation of the newborn Messiah to the Gentiles. God announced this great event through the ministration of a star, which we call today the Star of Bethlehem. The three wise men from the East saw this special star and were able to grasp its message to the entire universe. The star did not only inform the Magi that the Christ was born. It also led them to Him. They paid Him homage with their gifts of gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. What can we learn from this great event?
God Manifests His Presence in Many Ways
Firstly, this is not the first time God has manifested himself to human beings. He has done it so extensively already in many ways that no human being can justifiably deny His existence and his overwhelming greatness and splendor. God has revealed His awesome Being through the wonders of nature, the seen and the unseen forces—the reason the psalmist sings: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork” (Ps. 19:1). The psalmist concludes: “The fool says in his heart, ‘there is no God.’”
It is indeed an act of foolishness to deny the existence of God while living, moving, and having existence in Him (cf. Acts 17:28). How can the fish say, there is no water? To make this clearer, St. Paul writes: “Since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse “(Rom. 1:20). Thus, no one can claim ignorance of the existence of God.
Creation Testifies
Secondly, God can employ the services of any of His creatures for His divine purposes. We, human beings, are not the only creatures that serve God. He enjoys the worship and praise of his uncountable number of angels.
David would invoke everything that has breath to praise the Lord (Ps.150:6). In the preface of the Eucharistic prayer IV, the Church at worship addresses her Lord and God: “With them (angels) we, too, confess your name in exultation, giving voice to every creature under heaven as we acclaim….” The three young men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, called upon living and non-living creatures by their names from the heart of the fire to join their humble adoration of God (Dan.3:52-93).
For God, however, all His creatures have life. If the Star of Bethlehem did not become His special envoy, we may not have known that stars are alive. To accentuate this fact, Jesus told the Pharisees, who wanted Him to rebuke those who were praising God, “I tell you, if they keep silent, the stones will cry out” (Lk 19:40). No human being should, therefore, think that he or she is too big to serve God or that God has a special interest in him or her because he is short of worshippers.
God Speaks Wordlessly Too
Thirdly, I have observed Christians seeking to hear the voice of God from people who they believe are gifted with the special gifts of prophecies, visions, and dreams to the extent of involving themselves in the sin of divination. Yet God speaks to them in a thousand and one ways without their realizing it. As He did through the Star of Bethlehem, God communicates us wordlessly every day through the things that happen around us.
According to the psalmist: There is no speech; there are no words; their voice is not heard; yet their message has gone out to the whole earth (Ps. 19:3-4). We only require paying attention like the Magi to interpret and understand what God is saying to us through our diverse experiences.
