That ‘Superstar’ feeling

Teacher: What do you call the star that is in the north?

Students: North Star, Ma’am!

Teacher: What do you call the star that is in the south?

Students: South Star, Ma’am!

Teacher: What do you call the star in the middle of the two?

Students: “‘Bituin’, Ma’am!”

Today is the solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. It is God who reveals himself to us. On our own we cannot know God, for our minds cannot truly comprehend Him. Only in humble listening and diligent searching can we truly encounter Him. If you have that “SUPERSTAR” feeling about yourself, most likely, you will not find God.

In today’s Gospel (Mt. 2, 1-12), we hear how the Magi were led by a star to Baby Jesus. It was a star that brought them joy and peace. What star are you following? Is your star making you truly joyful and peaceful? Today, let us ask ourselves if what we are pursuing in life is really worth it all. Let Jesus be the superstar of our lives.

Herod was surrounded by money and power and people at his beck and call, but he did not find the Lord. Neither can we, if we do not have humility and sincerity of heart. It is to a humble and contrite heart that God is able to reveal Himself fully.

Feeling superstar ka ba? Forget it. It’s an illusion. The sooner you let go of that thought, ambition or feeling, the better for you and for the people around.

Let us learn from the Magi. They were wise, not so much because of their knowledge, as because of their humility that made them accept that there was someone greater than themselves. They prostrated themselves and paid homage to the Baby Jesus. A person who thinks himself/herself big is a fool, and, yes, stupid. Humility, humility, humility!

It is with gratitude that we say goodbye to the year that was. It is with humility and trust that we say yes to the year that is ahead of us. Our greatest confidence is the Lord’s promise that He will be with us every single day of 2019. We do not know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future, and that is enough.

Let me end with a story about an elderly woman sitting behind the bus driver who kept giving him peanuts. Out of curiosity, the driver asked her: “Grandma, why do you keep giving me peanuts?” The woman said: “Oh, it’s just the chocolate coating that I like!”

Let us examine today the quality of our giving. All too often, we give calculatingly, and sparingly, all done within our comfort zones. Let the Magi remind us to go out of our way, and to really bring out our treasures for the Lord and for His people. Unless and until we do that, we will never really find and encounter Him.

Sharing with you this text message from my accountant friend Rudy Besinga: “Birth is your opening stock; what comes to you is your credit; what goes from you is debit; your ideas are your assets; your character is your liabilities; your happiness is your profit; your sorrow is your loss; your knowledge is your investment; your age is your depreciation; death is your closing stock; and God is your auditor who will come back to you sooner or later, so you better share with all, and keep your books in proper order.”

Think about this: “A grateful heart is always thankful, in all circumstances; a discontented heart complains, even in paradise.”

A moment with the Lord:

Lord, You and You alone, are the Superstar of my life. Amen.