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This Sunday, we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord. The word “Epiphany” means a manifestation or revealing and recalls the visit of the three Magi to the Christ child. All through the Advent readings at Mass, we heard the words of the prophets telling us to prepare the way of the Lord in our lives and hopefully we spent those four weeks preparing ourselves to receive Jesus this Christmas.

And now, on this Feast of Epiphany, we celebrate the manifestation of Jesus to the world. The Magi came from the east, following a star which led them to Jesus. When at last they arrived, they bowed down in worship and paid him homage. Having seen Christ, St. Matthew tells us that they returned to their home by a new route.

These Magi are a perfect model of Christian discipleship. They sought Jesus by a very long journey that was, no doubt, difficult. They came long before the days of high speed trains or planes, not really even knowing their destination. Their journey was a deliberate one on which they had to overcome many things. When they found him, they bowed down in worship. Having had this encounter, they arose and began a new journey back to their own land by a new route with lives that were changed. Once they experienced the presence of Jesus, they couldn’t go back the same way. What a powerful lesson in discipleship!

Once we come to Jesus and stand face to face with the King of Kings, we are changed by the encounter. We cannot follow back the same path that brought us to him, but must follow a new path instead — and our journey continues. Finding Jesus wasn’t the end of the journey of the Magi, it was just the beginning. We don’t know what happens to them, but we can be assured that having this intimate meeting with the Lord changed their lives and as they journeyed on, they told others of what they found when they followed that star. How could they not?

That question is true for us as well — how can we not live changed lives and tell others of our experience with Jesus? On our journey of life, we must strive to continually follow Jesus, regardless of what it costs us and when we come into contact with him, we must be willing to break forth on a new path that will allow us to take what we encounter into the world.

So let us begin this new year by asking ourselves how we have been changed by the celebration of Christ’s coming this Christmas and how Jesus manifests Himself to us. How is our journey this year going to be different? What has this Christmas season brought to us and what will we now bring to the world. I pray that as you continue your journey ever closer to our Lord, He will continue to manifest his light to you in ways that will forever change you and strengthen you.