Pilgrims of Hope

The magi are fascinating figures; gentiles, seeing signs in the sky, who travel a long way to worship a poor baby. They are mysterious—in their origin and knowledge. They bring gifts that don’t make sense at first. They are given directions by Herod, which they don’t heed, leaving them to escape away by another path, mysteriously.

Epiphany reminds us that from His birth, some recognized the greatness, the divinity, of Jesus. They had sudden revelation—be it from angels in the field or stars in the sky. They saw the truth and heeded the signs.

As the Church celebrated the Jubilee Year with the theme “pilgrims of hope,” the magi represent pilgrimage well. They have heard a call, and they travel great distance in order to find God. The magi recognized Herod’s evil motives and rejected them. Similarly, we must spurn evil and remain focused on our journey. The magi’s pilgrimage must have seemed foolish to some—vague information, long and expensive travel, entering a land and culture different from one’s own. Yet the magi were filled with hope and purpose. They trusted that they were being led to something magnificent.

Hope is most important in the darkest times, when it is as valuable as the gold and fine oils the magi offered. When things don’t make sense, when the world seems to contradict order and values, when evil casts a shadow, that is when we should be looking up. Look for the signs of purpose and hope. And follow them.

The magi are mysterious, but they set a clear example. We are called to be pilgrims, filled with joy and hope. We cannot let distractions or confusion or doubt stop us from our search for God. We should always be striving to draw closer to Him, reminding hopeful that in the end, good prevails and we will be united with Him.