Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany, that time when a single star traversing the night sky led three Magi, three kings to a small, sleeping child. And, in their hands they bear three gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh, symbols of who this child is, symbols of what will eventually happen to Him by becoming one of us.

Therefore, we mark the Epiphany, a word that means, “manifestation,” a word that means that our eyes are opened, by opening our eyes today, as the Magi, as Herod, as everyone did to this child, knowing He is special, knowing He is King. In fact, it was common for a famous birth, as it was for Moses, as it often was for kings and queens, to always be preceded by a sign in the sky, so that when Christ was born, they understood, they had an epiphany, as it were, that this little child in a manger was destined for great and glorious things.

That is why on this twelfth day of Christmas we celebrate the same that was celebrated over 2000 years ago, the manifestation, as one priest puts it, of the divinity of God shining through the humanity of Christ. We celebrate the invitation to recognize and constantly find God in our midst, to seek Him out and to follow a light, a light, however, that does not shine in the sky, but, rather burns in front of every tabernacle throughout the world.

Because, in the beautiful words of St. John Bosco: “We envy the shepherds who went to visit the grotto of Bethlehem to see Him, kissed His little hand, and offered Him their gifts. “Lucky shepherds!” we exclaim. And yet there is no reason to envy them, for their fortune is ours, too. The same Jesus they visited in the grotto is in our tabernacle. The only difference is that the shepherds saw Him with the eyes of the body, whereas we see Him with the eyes of faith. Nothing will please Him more than our frequent visits to Him.”

Therefore, let us go to Him, always, visit Him frequently, so that, we too, like the Magi, can prostrate ourselves before Him, and, like them, bring the greatest gifts we could give him, our very presence at His feet.

For, in the end, our lives are or should be a constant desire to find Him, to seek Him, and to go to Him always, everywhere, and every day. It was a star that pointed to salvation, it was a star that lit the way, a simple star, showing us that Christ is found not in the big things but the little things, the quiet things, the simple things.

When I was in seminary, before adoration, one night I wrote a poem. Many years later I returned to that poem in order to bring it to completion. I don’t often like to do this, but I would like to end with that poem, as it seem appropriate, especially given that we are still celebrating the feast of Christmas and it seems relevant for today’s Solemnity as well. It is simply entitled, “Nativity.”

Behold, upon that ground

The holy sinners knelt,

Each to their own,

Collective in their gaze.

They adored reverently,

As though they had known,

While the child

Lay there

Instilled in silence,

Quiet in awe.

Overhead

An enigmatic sparkle

Emanating from

A loose star,

Lost in the valley,

Of eyes and miracles.

In the distance,

Shepherds shuffle

Towards salvation

Softly singing

Bearing gifts

And beating a drum

As their own hearts

So few were present

Yet so many now return

As though it was that night

When angels sighed,

The people knelt,

And the earth fell still.