Feast of the Epiphany 2025

I invite you to think about the stars. For centuries, th
ey have fascinated humanity. Ancient navigators used them to guide their ships across uncharted waters. 

Scientists have studied them to uncover the mysteries of the universe. And tonight, if you step outside and look up, you might feel the same awe that countless generations before us have felt. 

Today, I want to share something extraordinary about stars that will lead us into the heart of today’s Gospel.

Scientists tell us that when stars grow very old, they expand, collapse, and ultimately explode in a spectacular event called a supernova. 

But here’s the amazing part: the material that made up those stars doesn’t disappear. 

Instead, it travels through space. Over billions of years, it eventually reaches places like Earth, where it becomes part of the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the ground where our food grows. 

When we breathe, drink, and eat, that “star material” becomes part of us. That means you and I are, quite literally, made of stardust.

Think about that for a moment. The atoms in your body may have come from a star that Galileo saw through his telescope. Or from the stars that guided Christopher Columbus across the Atlantic. 

And… some of us may even carry particles from the very star that led the Magi to Bethlehem. Isn’t that an incredible thought?

But as breathtaking as this scientific fact is, our faith takes it one step further. Science tells us that we are connected to the stars. 

Our faith tells us that we are called to be stars — stars with a divine mission.

In today’s Gospel, we hear the story of the Magi, those wise men from the East who followed a star to find the newborn King of the Jews. 

That star wasn’t just a light in the sky; it was a sign, a guide, pointing the way to Jesus. 

The Magi trusted it. They set out on a long and challenging journey, bringing their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to offer to the Christ child.

The Magi’s story reminds us that God uses creation — even something as vast and distant as a star — to lead people to His Son. 

And just as God used that star to guide the Magi, He now calls us to be His stars in the world. Through our baptism, we are given a mission: to lead others to Jesus. 

We are called to shine with His light and point the way to Him.

When we were baptized, we were marked with the light of Christ. From that moment on, our lives took on a new purpose: to reflect His love and truth in everything we do. 

Just as the Star of Bethlehem had one job — to lead people to Jesus — we have one job, too. And each of us has unique gifts and talents to fulfill that mission. 

Some of us shine by teaching, others by serving, and still others through acts of kindness and compassion. 

But no matter how we shine, the goal is always the same: to bring others closer to Jesus.

Now, you might be thinking, “That sounds like a big responsibility. How can I keep shining when life gets hard, when I’m tired, or when I feel like my light is fading?” 

The answer is simple: we can’t do it alone. Just as stars need energy to shine, we need spiritual fuel to sustain us. 

That fuel is the Eucharist.

When we come to Mass and receive the Body and Blood of Christ, we are strengthened. The Eucharist nourishes our souls and gives us the grace we need to keep going, to keep shining. 

It’s what keeps our light burning brightly, even in the darkest of times.

So today, on this Feast of the Epiphany, I invite you to reflect on your own light. 

How are you shining for others? 

How are you leading people to Jesus? 

Maybe it’s through your kindness to a neighbor, your patience with a difficult coworker, or your willingness to forgive someone who has hurt you. 

Maybe it’s through your prayers for those in need or the time you spend volunteering. 

Whatever it is, know that your light matters. God is using you to guide others to Him.

And remember: you don’t have to do it perfectly. Even the Star of Bethlehem didn’t bring the Magi directly to Jesus.

 It led them to Jerusalem first, where they had to ask for directions. 

But eventually, they found their way to the Christ child. In the same way, God doesn’t ask us to have all the answers. He just asks us to shine.

The same God who placed the stars in the heavens and called them by name has placed His light in you. You are part of His plan to bring the world to Christ. 

So go forth from here today, fueled by the Eucharist, and let your light shine. Be the star that leads someone to Jesus.