Sister Kate’s “Gospel Question of the Week” (Matthew 2: 1-12) …Weekend of 1/4-5/2014 … Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord… This weekend’s passage from the Holy Gospel reads like a mystery novel. Jesus is born…three strangers arrive in the country “from the East” (we refer to these men now as the Magi)…they go to Herod to inquire about the “New King” who has just been born…Herod has an attack of paranoia…Herod questions the Magi about the star that is giving them directions to see this new King…Herod tries to put one over on the Magi by telling them that when they find the new King that they should come back to tell him where the King is so that he can go worship him…Herod has no intentions of worshipping the King, but instead devises a plan to put the King to death…the Magi take off and follow the star…the Magi, being WISE MEN, know that Herod is up to no good, find the King, worship Him, and then head for home by another route with no intentions of checking back in with Herod!!! Whew! Jesus is saved from the sword of Herod. Great story! This Gospel story teaches us how Christ enriched those who brought him their hearts. Since the Magi came with joy in their hearts to visit the Christ child, God allowed them to see wondrous things. At the same time, today’s Gospel hints at different reactions to the news of Jesus’ birth, foreshadowing perhaps his passion and death. The entire Gospel is rich with meaning for us if we take the time to sit down and ponder its lesson. What message is there for us in this weekend’s passage? Let us offer Jesus our very selves, promising God that we will use His blessings by doing good for others. Just as the Magi chose another route to return to their home, let us…in this new year…choose a better way of life, abstaining from what we know tears us down and by choosing to do random acts of kindness. We can become the Star, leading others to Jesus, as the star led the Magi to Him. We can help to remove the darkness of evil in the world by being like the burning light of the star, radiating Jesus’ love in service, unconditional forgiveness and compassionate care. I’m sure you can draw out many more “lessons” from this Gospel passage…sit with it and ponder. It will bring you God’s grace! Artaban the fourth magi: In 1895 Henry van Dyke wrote the "Story of the Other Wise Man," a fourth wise man called Artaban. Our hero is not mentioned in the Gospel because he missed the caravan. He got to Bethlehem too late to see the baby Jesus. But Artaban did make it in time to save one of the Holy Innocents by bribing a soldier. For 33 years Artaban searched for Jesus. He did not find him. But all the while the Fourth wise man fed the hungry, helped the poor. Then one day in Jerusalem Artaban saw the "King of the Jews" being crucified. He started to offer a pearl as ransom. But then he saw a girl being sold into slavery to pay family debts. Artaban gave his pearl to buy freedom for the girl. Suddenly the earth quaked as Jesus died on the cross and a stone struck Artaban. Dying, he heard a voice saying: "When you helped the least of my children, you helped me. Meet me in heaven!" Artaban, the fourth magi, had been making God present in his community for years by helping others. God asks each of us on the feast of Epiphany to be a fourth Magi by becoming God’s epiphanies, making His love present in the world around us by our acts of love and kindness. GOSPEL QUESTION FOR THE WEEK: Are you searching for Jesus earnestly in your life?