“Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw the rising of his star in the East and have
come to honor him.” When Herod heard this he was greatly disturbed, and with him all Jerusalem.
He immediately called a meeting of all high-ranking priests and teachers of the law, and asked
them where the Messiah was to be born. “In the town of Bethlehem in Judea,” they told him,
“for this is what the prophet wrote: And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, you are by no
means the least among the clans of Judah, for from you will come a leader, one who is to
shepherd my people Israel.” Then Herod secretly called the wise men and asked them the
precise time the star appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem with these instructions, “Go and get
accurate information about the child. As soon as you have found him, report to me, so that I, too,
may go and honor him.” After the meeting with the king, they set out. The star that they had
seen in the East went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. The
wise men were overjoyed on seeing the star again. They went into the house, and when they
saw the child with Mary his mother, they knelt and worshiped him. They opened their bags and
offered him their gifts of gold, incense and myrrh. In a dream they were warned not to go back
to Herod, so they returned to their home country by another way.

READ: Jesus was born in Bethlehem during the reign of Herod. The magi searched for the newborn
king of the Jews. Herod, pretending to honor the child, instructed the magi to tell him once they would
find the child. The magi were overjoyed as they were guided by the star. They found the child and his
parents. They worshipped the child, giving him gifts of gold, incense and myrrh. But they returned
home through another way.

REFLECT: The magi searched for Jesus. It is God himself, through a star, who guided them in their
search. Our search for the Lord will not always be a smooth sailing quest. There will be difficulties
and challenges. Along the way, there may be obstacles that can derail our focus. In the Gospel, these
obstacles are represented by Herod. The good news, nevertheless, is that God never stops guiding
us. We only need to be open to the guidance he provides. Once we allow God to guide us, we will find
true joy, overcoming every hindrance that prevents us from getting closer to Jesus.

PRAY: Let us pray for God’s continuous guidance that we may overcome whatever prevents us from
getting closer to Jesus.

ACT: Let us think of one particular beautiful trait which will bring us closer to God. Having in mind
that God always guides us, let us begin practicing such trait, offering it to Jesus as we continue our
faith journey this year.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2024