Weekly HOMILY for January 3, 2010: What Star Do You Follow?

Feast of the Epiphany, Cycle C
Our Lady of Grace
January 3, 2010

What Star Do You Follow?
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato


John

There is a story that a man named John tells about himself.

John’s father was a common laborer who could barely provide for his family. His mother was chronically ill and in need of medical care that the family could ill afford.

Life was living in a succession of small apartments, with meager meals, third-hand furniture and hand-me-down clothes. All John wanted to do was escape his poverty.

And so, John focused on school and work. By the age of forty, he had a prestigious position with a New York investment firm, a beautiful home and family, and had amassed an impressive portfolio.

The poverty of John’s childhood was a mere memory. Then his father died.

John saw his father as a failure. Weeks after his father’s death, he went to the small rundown apartment where his father lived alone.

John was embarrassed by the rickety old furniture, the stained and faded walls, and the few possessions his father had. In the bedroom closet, he found a box marked “Christmas Stuff.”

Inside John found the construction paper ornaments and lights that they used to put on their Christmas tree. He also found the pieces of the family’s manger scene wrapped in old newspaper.

Then John discovered an envelope taped to the underneath of the manger. He opened it and found a letter written by his father, dated Christmas 1955.


Dear Johnny

The letter began: “Hi Johnny, I’m your daddy.

“I’ve waited so long to say that. Johnny, to be your daddy means loving you just because you are my son.

“There’s so much joy in my heart, so many dreams for you. You have brought joy into our lives, a joy that your mom and I thought we’d never know.

“You see, Johnny, a few weeks before we were married, the doctors gave us the sad news that, because of mom’s many physical problems, we could never have a child of our own. We were crushed.

“Every morning and evening, we prayed on our knees asking God for a miracle. Months turned into years and then, much to everyone’s surprise, you were born at 12:01am on December 8th.

“ Son, I’ll never be rich, but I believe that God will carry us every step of the way. We’ll always have each other and that’s more than I ever hoped for, much more than I probably deserve.

“Some day, Johnny, you’ll understand how I’m feeling. Just keep in mind who you are, where you’ve come from, and how much you are loved.

“Hold the blessings of Christmas close to your heart, because you are one of them. You are forever our miracle child.”

Johnny just sat there in tears, clutching the most valuable piece of paper he had ever held. He realized how rich his parents were – and how poor he had become.


What Star Do We Follow?

That touching story raises one important question for us: What star are we following in our lives?

In today’s Gospel, the Magi or wise men follow the star that leads them to the newborn Messiah or King. The truth is that each of us follows some star.

These Wise Men move us to ask ourselves: “What star do we follow?” “What star forms the meaning, purpose and direction of our lives?”

Do we navigate by a star that leads us to success in business, studies or sports? Or do we follow a star that leads to money, esteem, position or security?

In other words, do we follow stars that change and that will someday flame out of the sky altogether?

Or, do we fix our lives on the great star of God, namely Jesus?

Do we follow the star that leads us to a relationship with the Lord and enriched by that finding, that presence, are we then able to reach out to others with relationships of love, faithfulness, fairness, honesty, integrity, and compassion?


Conclusion

So, on this feast of star and Savior, we are asked, “What star are you following?”

The good news is that it is never too late to discover, as Johnny does in his story we just heard, that the real wealth is found by following the star and the light of Jesus.