by Fr. Randy Flores, SVD
January 4, 2025 - For the Epiphany Sunday
Readings: Isa 60:1-6; Eph 3:2-3; Mat 2:1-12
Exactly 50 years ago, on January 4, 1975, the centennial year (100) Divine Word Missionaries (SVD), an amateur astronomer and missionary priest, the late Fr. Leo Boethin, SVD, made a remarkable discovery. While scanning the skies with his telescope in the mountains of Abra, he observed a "rising star." Later, he realized it was a comet previously unknown. Reporting his discovery to a U.S. astronomical center, the comet was officially named "Comet Boethin," designated as 85D/Boethin—the only comet discovered in the Philippines to date. This “rising star” brought universal recognition to this humble German missionary and added a new dimension to his life’s work: proclaiming God through the wonders of creation.
The evangelist Matthew tells of magi (sages) coming from the East (meaning, very far); they are looking for the newborn king of the Jews, and their only GPS is a “rising star” (Greek “ton astera en te anatole”).
Herod, the king, and his priests and scribes are also looking for the newborn king of the Jews, the Messiah. Their guide is the Holy Scripture.
Both signs are correct: The Scripture says that the king of the Jews shall be born in Bethlehem, and the star stopped in Bethlehem over the place where the Child-king was.
To both the Magi and Herod, Jesus was revealed as Messiah. The difference is that the Magi and Herod had different motives: The Magi came to pay Jesus homage; Herod, driven by jealousy, planned to eliminate him.
According to the story, when they saw the child with Mary, his mother, seeing the Child and the Mother was enough. There was no need to ask; no words were said. They prostrated themselves and paid homage, opening their gifts – representing the wealth of the ancient world – gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These gifts are given only to kings.
After this, we do not know what happened to these Magi. We could have given them a plaque of appreciation. But Herod, who did not see the child, massacred all the boys in Bethlehem. Our beautiful Christmas story has turned into a nightmare.
What do we learn from this?
Even nature can reveal Jesus. The next time you see the beautiful moon or stars, you can say, “moon and stars lead us to Jesus." "The world" says the poet G.M. Hopkins, "is charged with the grandeur of God."
Jesus was revealed to all, yes – but only those with the eyes of faith can see who he is. “ Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
Evil will not have the last laugh. The story of Jesus does not end in Bethlehem, but in Jerusalem, with death and resurrection. Herod? Well… historian Josephus wrote: "He had a fever, though not a raging fever, an intolerable itching of the whole skin, continuous pains in the intestines, tumors of the feet as in dropsy, inflammation of the abdomen, and gangrene of the privy parts." According to Josephus, Herod also suffered from asthma, limb convulsions, and foul breath.
In our lives, darkness may come, but let us set our eyes on the "rising star. We will never get lost, for hope will never disappoint us (Rom 5:5). We, too, can become "stars" to others. By our words and deeds, we can lead others to Jesus . As He said, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden" (Matthew 5:14), so "let your light shine before others" (Mt 5:16).
Comet Boethin, once discovered by Fr. Boethin, vanished and was never seen again after its brief reappearance in 1986. Fr. Boethin passed away in 1998, and many other missionaries in Abra followed him. The SVD missionaries have since turned over their work to the local clergy, and only a few remain serving in Abra after fifty years. This year, 2025, the Society of the Divine Word marks its 150th anniversary. The way these missionaries followed the "Rising Star" in Abra is truly worth emulating. They came "from everywhere for everyone" to be witnesses to the Light, as embodied in the theme of the 150th anniversary of the SVD.
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