My name is Melchior, my friends just call me Mel, and I am one of the three you call wisemen who paid the newborn king in Bethlehem a visit. . . bringing him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. I want to tell you a little about that experience. . . And this is how I will begin:
Billions and billions of them dance across the night sky, diamonds in the darkness, points of light against a canopy of endless black. They have shone for ages and ages, lending their glow to the night for millions of years.
Venture outside your big cities, away from the streetlights and neon signs shining in store windows, away from the pollution, and look up! They will shimmer and they will glimmer as if they’ve been freshly hurled across that dark expanse by the hand of God, which, of course, they were.
They are the stars, most of them nameless, few of them ever noteworthy on their own. All except one. This star made a statement. This star was the herald of hope. This star would lead any who dared to look heavenward, like my two companions, Gaspar, Balthasar, and I.
Perhaps it began as an ordinary star and just grew brighter and brighter until all the others seemed to dim. Or perhaps it burst against an ebony backdrop like a flash bulb in a dark room. Whatever the case, it hung like God’s favorite ornament in the sky of that night and it commanded the attention of we mere mortals below. Here is how St. Matthew expressed it so dignified and grandly in the Gospel that bears his name:
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, behold, magi from the East arrived in Jerusalem, saying: where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.”
For this star had called us to worship and caused us to rejoice!
But it was nothing more than a light for our pilgrim path. It was not the object of our worship, it simply pointed the way to something greater. And when that star stopped, when it at last stood still in the sky, we knew we had arrived at our destination. But rather than the end our journey, it was merely the beginning. For there in the stable under the star, we laid our eyes on holy flesh.
We encountered Emmanuel: God on earth.
We knew in our hearts the magnitude of this moment. For when we entered the place where the boy lay, we fell down and worshipped him!
It took a while for us to compose ourselves in the presence of such greatness, even though this king of kings was small enough for us to hold in our hands! The radiant star we had followed as we travelled to see Him vanished from our memories when we looked into that tiny face in the manger.
For in fact, in this story of the Savior’s birth, there is only one star, only one bright light, and his name is Jesus: the wonder-counselor, god-hero, father-forever, the prince of peace!
I believe that He is the star of the greatest drama of human history.
I believe that without Him, life is missing its focal point.
I believe without Jesus, the paths we travel on during our years here on earth are rocky and treacherous, our days are dark and empty.
What do you believe about him??
For I also believe he is not only the one to be worshipped, he is the one we are to follow. He is the only one we can trust to lead us and guide us, the only one worth walking behind.
After the visit to Jesus in Bethlehem, I have walked behind this star for years, following Him day by day on the most adventurous and amazing journey of life. I hope you will make the same choice that I have made.
The three of us left not knowing exactly where we were going, although we had the star to guide us. We did not know how long we would be gone or what dangers we would encounter. But we boldly committed our lives and the best gifts to seeking and glorify Christ.
None of you know what 2026 will hold for you. But I hope you make the choice to commit yourself to giving the best and your all, to following the Lord, to serve him by serving others, and glorify God in all you do.
To get started on your amazing journey, in the midst of the hustle and bustle and the hurry and demands of daily life, just take the time to look up and follow the star!
For every nation on earth will adore him. Every nation on earth will adore him.