With the recent tragedies in New Orleans, Las Vegas, and elsewhere heavy on our hearts, we turn to the Gospel reading for this Sunday. As we celebrate the Feast of Epiphany on January 6—an annual reminder of light breaking into the world—and the sacrament of baptisms this Sunday, we find ourselves in a season of joy and hope. Yet, scripture and current events also call us to acknowledge the shadows of darkness that persist around us.

Matthew 2:1-12 gives us the journey of the Magi from the east following a star to an unknown destination. There is a key there for 2025. We, like the Magi, don’t know what the year holds but we do know the Way. He is the way, the life and the truth (John 14:6). In the Magi’s journey we observe 5 stages of anybody’s journey:

They were attentive to signs given by revelation. An epiphany. We aren’t in control of epiphanies but when they come, they “get us” if we are watching, listening, observing.

They responded and they moved with hope. Not knowing the destination, they knew enough to follow revelation. They are icons of hope. King Herod had an epiphany as well when questioning the Magi. He responded with fear, hatred, deceit, insecurity and violence. He is an icon of trouble. How do we respond? Hope or darkness? If we are honest, both are in us. Longing and fear. Where are you?

The Magi met this darkness in Herod. He uses them for his own dark purposes. In your spiritual journey you will face opposition. Herod’s opposition is very subtle. If we are nothing but innocent and naive we aren’t cagey enough to see Herods in our life or our hearts. Be shrewd and innocent.

They bring their best: gold, frankincense and myrrh. Give God your best, not your leftovers. Begin the day with Him. End the day with Him. Stay throughout the day with Him, for Him.

They returned through a different route. We never come to Christ and go back the same way we came. We never remain unchanged. We will think and act with more self control, less jealousy, more compassion, generosity and love.

There is more I will say about this journey and the 2 icons of darkness and hope. But, lastly, let me comment on the Herod-like darkness of New Years Day. I quote from a friend, Jim Denison, and his blog from today in Denison forum, January 2:

One of my favorite psalms begins, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). This is a type of Hebrew poetry known as “synthetic parallelism,” whereby the second phrase amplifies the first. In this case, the verse can be literally translated, “God is presently our place of refuge and mighty power, an exceedingly available helper as we face adversity and anguish.”

Why should we believe this to be true?

Because of what he has done in the past: “Come, behold the works of the Lᴏʀᴅ, how he has brought desolations on the earth” (v. 8).

Because of what he is doing in the present: “He makes wars cease to the end of the earth” (v. 9).

Because of what he will do in the future: “I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (v. 10).

It is therefore only logical to conclude: “The Lᴏʀᴅ of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress” (v. 11).

However, as we have seen, our Creator honors the freedom he has given us. As a result, unlike the kings of history whose subjects had no choice in the matter, this sovereign rules only those who humble themselves before him as their king.

Accordingly, he can lead only those who will follow and give only what we will receive. And when our secularized culture tempts us to believe, “I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul,” we miss what our all-powerful Father gives to those who trust him."