The Christmas star

The Good News of the birth of Jesus and the salvation he brings is intended not only for the People of Israel, but for all people everywhere, and the appearance of the star to the magi is one of the first gospel indicators of the universality of salvation. Matthew began with the end in mind. If the gospel ends with Jesus saying, “Go … make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28:19), then the gospel ought to begin with an announcement of the birth of Jesus to all nations.

The Magi. The magi lived in the East, most likely Persia. They were highly educated upper class nobility, wise men, who were well-informed in astronomy, astrologers. They were political or government dignitaries because they served as advisors to the king and princes, and they were spiritual guides because they acted as pagan priests who were both fortune tellers and magicians. The magi were not Jewish; they did not belong to the People of Israel.

Good News for Everyone. In Matthew’s Infancy Narrative the magi serve as representative figures for Gentiles, all those in the world who are not Jewish. The appearance of the star and the announcement of the birth of Jesus to the magi indicate that Jesus, the Good News of the Gospel, the arrival of the Reign of God, and salvation that Jesus brings are intended not only for the Chosen People Israel, but for all people, those of every nation, race, people, and tongue, every person in every land in every age of history.

The Route to God. One of the truest and most effective pathways to God for Jews is through Sacred Scripture, but the Gentiles did not have or know the Word. So God used another method, a star. The beauty of creation is readily observable to everyone, so whether a person sees a star, the sun or the moon, billowing clouds or the blue sky, mountains or rivers, animals or plants, the magnificence of creation stirs wonderment and awe and leads believer and non-believer alike to God. Once captivated by the star, the magi followed it to Israel, as the Chosen People still serve an important role in leading people to God, and it was necessary for the magi to consult the prophecies to find Jesus, because Scripture is valuable to all who seek God.

Expanded Scope. Initially Jesus came only for the Jews (Mt 15:24). His initial instruction to his disciples was, “Do not go into pagan territory” (Mt 10:5), but rather, “Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Mt 10:6). Except when Jesus went to Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, all established Jewish communities, many refused to listen, repent, or follow him (Mt 11:20-24), and in a short while the Pharisees began to plot how they might put Jesus to death (Mt 12:14). Jesus expanded the scope of his mission to include the Gentiles when he went to the east side of the Sea of Galilee (Mt 8:28), the Decapolis (see also Mk 7:31), and to Tyre and Sidon (Mt 15:21), both cities in modern-day southern Lebanon outside of the northwest border of Israel. Jesus came for all, Jews and Gentiles alike.

Universal Salvation. The Collect Prayer for the Epiphany Mass during the day begins, “O God … who revealed your Only Begotten Son to the nations by the guidance of a star” and the Preface adds that Jesus is “a light for the nations.” Jesus came for all nations, and the appearance of the star to the magi hundreds of miles from Israel says that salvation is intended for everyone, near and far.