The Stars We Follow

Reflection for January 4, 2026 — The Epiphany of the Lord

In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, Magi from the east arrive in Jerusalem to pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews, offering him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Find the daily reading here.

Everyone follows a star.

It is human nature to seek. If we are rich, we want to be richer. If we are smart, we want to be smarter. If we are powerful, we want to be more powerful.



We cannot stay in one place, so to speak — to say, “I am what I am, I have what I have, and it is enough.” Even the very act of maintaining a status quo, be it health or wealth or spiritual goodness, requires action. It requires effort. It requires movement. This is human nature. There is nothing wrong with it. When we stop seeking, we die.

But what are we looking for? Where are we going?

I often wonder if the Magi knew what they were seeking — really, truly knew. They were seeking “the newborn king of the Jews,” yes, but did they understand who he was? What he was? I don’t see how they could have. They were wise men, but they were not prophets. They simply knew this was an endeavor they had to undertake. They knew it in their souls.

There really is very little that we know for certain about the Magi. We don’t know how many of them there were. We don’t know their religion. We don’t know where they came from. All we know for certain is that they listened to a voice they heard deep within themselves. And, heeding that voice, they went forth. 

And what did they find? They found what we all seek, even if, foolishly, we seek it in riches or power.

They found the face of the Child.

So tell me this. Of all the stars you could follow, which one does the voice — that one deep within you— tell you to chase?

Point to it. And go forth.

©LPi