WEEKLY REFLECTION

Dear Beloved Friends,

Happy Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord!

This weekend, we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany. We reflect on the journey of the Magi—wise men who followed a star to find the newborn King. Tradition gives us the names of these three Magi:

Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. Caspar, often depicted as a younger man, brought frankincense, symbolizing Jesus’ divinity and priestly role. Melchior, an older figure, presented gold, acknowledging Christ as King. Balthazar, with darker features, offered myrrh, foreshadowing Jesus’ suffering and death.

These men came from diverse lands—Persia, Arabia, and possibly India—representing the nations of the world being drawn to the light of Christ. Their gifts expressed the fullness of Jesus’ identity: God, King, and Savior.

A fascinating legend speaks of a fourth Magi named Artaban, who also set out to find the Savior. Artaban carried gifts of rare gems for Jesus. However, his journey was interrupted by numerous acts of charity—helping the poor, the sick, and the needy. Because of these delays, he never reached Bethlehem in time to see the Christ Child.

Yet Artaban’s story teaches us an important lesson. Though he did not meet Jesus in the manger, he encountered Him in the faces of those he served along the way. His journey was one of love, and his life became an offering to Christ through acts of kindness and mercy. The story of the fourth Magi challenges us to reflect on how we seek Jesus in our lives. Like the Magi, we are called to bring our gifts to Christ. But Artaban reminds us that our true worship lies in daily acts of love and compassion.

As we gaze at the star this Epiphany, let us ask: Where is Christ calling us to bring His light? May we, like the Magi, be guided by faith, and may our offering reflect hearts transformed by love

Blessings on our journey of Faith,
Fr Josuva