In an attempt to determine what the “star” that guided the Magi might have been, astronomers have studied celestial phenomena that could have taken place at about the time of Jesus’ birth. The main candidates are:
(1. ) A supernova or “new star”:
When a star explodes into birth it gives out a great deal of light lasting weeks or months, sometimes even visible in the daytime. About a dozen are discovered each year, but they are rarely visible to the naked eye.
(2. ) A comet:
Comets appear a few times each century. Halley’s Comet has appeared about every 76 years since 240 B. C. Its appearance closest to the date of Christ’s birth would have been in 12 or 11 B. C.
(3. ) A planetary conjunction:
There is a new conjunction of three planets, which, according to the 17th century astronomer, Johannes Kepler, occurs every 850 years when the orbits of Mars, Saturn and Jupiter bring them close to one another. Kepler saw this happen in October of 1604, and calculated that it would also have happened in 7 or 6 B. C.
There may have been no celestial phenomenon marking my birth. Instead of looking back, I would do better to look ahead. As I look ahead to the rest of this New Year, what is my guiding star?
Why the Lord, of course.
I couldn’t have a better one. The big thing is to be in touch with him…every day.
Looking back on these past 42 days, there has been a lot of joy. We read of Jesus curing the lame, blind, deaf, mute, lepers…a paralyzed man lowered down through the roof. Imagine the celebrating.
We heard Jesus tell the story of a good shepherd who rejoices to find a stray sheep. We also heard Jesus promise that if we come to him we will find rest.
We read of angels bringing good news, astronauts praying from space, and old man and old woman coming to the Temple and rejoice at the sight of the holy Infant.
We read of a blind monk who discovered champagne, and a saintly bishop who had money baked with bread so the poor could receive it with honor. We read of Mary the “Morning Star” who said, “My spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”
And we read of Sr. Anna Mae who wrote down one joy at the end of every day.
Maybe we can learn from all that. Few lives are easy, without major problems. But underneath it all is a God who loves us, cares for us, is with us 24 hours every day, and who promises us a life that last forever.
And within it all are people who connect with the same God – whether they know it or not – people who one way or another bring some joy into my life every day.
Those joys are markers, treasures along the way. But in the hustle and bustle of it all, I can miss them.
I ought to write them down!