If you’ve ever driven at night in a rainstorm and looked at oncoming traffic, you realize how confusing lights can be. The headlights glow like bright stars and it’s difficult to see if it’s your destination ahead or just more blurry headlights.Life is like that—blurry headlights—things that seem like a good destination but lead nowhere.
The Jewish people in the time of Jesus were driving in a rainstorm of sorts for quite some time as well. Most often they “drove” in darkness and were confused not only about where they were going but how long it would take and when they would “get” there. Then the Light of the world came and they realized things were different. They were no longer in darkness. The message was clear: Jesus had come for all peoples— not just them. There may have been a few that were upset because they were no longer the only “chosen” ones, but we were all chosen. All we needed to do was find the right light and follow it.
The Feast of the Epiphany reminds us that the magi, educated men, astrologers, searched the skies for the sign that had been promised and once they found that sign, followed it until they discovered the Christ. What star are we following? Is it the light of Christ? Is it helping us to understand and follow God's wish for us in our life? Or are things blinding us that appear to be good but do not lead us to our ultimate destination?