Several years ago, I saw a program on EWTN called The Star of Bethlehem , which explored what this star really was, which as it turned out was the coming together of three things: the star Regulus, the king star, the planet Jupiter, the largest or king of the planets, and the planet Venus, which is also called the Morning Star. As we know the planet Jupiter is named for the father of all the gods in the pagan Roman religion and Venus is named for the goddess of love in the same religion. The gentleman who was explaining all this on the TV was not an astronomer, but a lawyer who was very interested in knowing and explaining what the star of Bethlehem really was. There are many that think it is just a legend and that it never appeared the way it is described in the Bible. With some very sophisticated computer software that can allow one to see the sky as it was on any given date in history, he was able to see the sky as it was around the time of Jesus’ birth. An interesting side note: this year the planets Jupiter and Venus are again in alignment.
It is amazing to me how, in various areas of our faith and scriptures, modern science and technology are proving to us that many events described in the Bible really happened in the way God revealed them to us. We may also consider whether or not we all came from the same parents, Adam and Eve, as told to us in the Bible. According to a study done several years ago scientist collected the placentas of women all over the world in order to study the DNA. The study found that we are all related and do come from a common ancestor. The study proves that we are all at least 52nd cousins.
God has revealed many great things to us and sometimes in our so-called sophistication we are quick to doubt what it says in the Bible because we say there is no proof. I think as time goes on; we will find that the truth of the Bible is something that will be verified by science and technology.
God reveals much about himself in the Bible and in nature. Human beings have been studying the earth and the stars for thousands of years and this study should bring us closer to God, but for some it has caused less faith in God and more faith in humans. No one has all the answers except God Who has revealed them to us and then allows us to discover them on our own too.
The story of the Star of Bethlehem and the Magi who came from the East seeking the newborn King of the Jews reminds us that all of creation points to God and through His Word and all He created we can come to know and love Him.
The Feast of the Epiphany is just one time that God has shown Himself to the world. He is really with us; all we have to do is come out of the darkness and into the light and we can see Him for ourselves. Let us pray that the light of faith will continue to guide the Church to remain faithful to the Truth that is Jesus Christ.
Happy New Year to everyone. Another year is upon us, and we wonder where the time goes. As we look back on 2025, many are very happy and relieved that it is over. We all know that the events of a certain year are not necessarily confined to that year. In any and every year we can recall good times and bad times; times of joy and times of anxiety; times of good health and times of sickness; times of being together and times of being far apart. Whatever we may have experienced or are experiencing, we must always remember that God is with us. He is Emmanuel and that is what the name means, GOD IS WITH US. Sometimes it is not so easy to remember, but if we are praying and are faithful to Him in the sacraments we will remember. Saying our prayers and going to church are not like an insurance policy that we take out so that nothing bad will happen to us, but it is like an insurance policy we take out so that when something goes wrong, we know we are covered and God remains with us.
It is a tradition in some cultures to have the house blessed on the Feast of the Epiphany. This is a very good tradition to carry to remind us and our families that the home is a sacred place where God dwells with us and helps us to remember the love He has for us, and He calls us to have for one another. At the doors of the Church, you will find the Blessing for a home and the blessed chalk to use to inscribe above your front door 20 K+M+B 26. These are the initials of the Three Kings (Kaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar) along with the new year. May God watch over your family in the new year.
