The star of Bethlehem is correlated with the birth of Christ. The Magi from the East took notice of the star and journeyed with the star in obedience and paid homage to the newborn king.
As we celebrate this year’s Black History Month, I invite you to reflect on our collective journey to the heart of Christ, where we find our healing and peace. Like the Magi, who saw the star, risked their lives, faced many challenges, and even entered a conspiracy with Herod, the king at the time – they remained focused, attentive, and in touch with the star, their source of direction; as a matter of fact, they were wise not to rely on another source except Divine support.
As a people needing healing and peace, our healing comes from Christ, our light. We must resist the temptation to give up or the alluring test of trusting another source to lead us to the source of our healing. Following the star involves risks, challenges, conspiracy, fear, uncertainty, pain and struggles to let go, in all these, “we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us” Rom 8:37.
Like the Magi, when they eventually reached the place where the newborn king was, their joy knew no bounds, and they went home a better way. Christ encounters us to restore us, and he sends us home through a better way to become what we have received.
I invite you, friends, to become a source of healing and peace to our generation. Our Beloved Servant of God, Sister Thea Bowman, provides some words on which to reflect:
“What does it mean to be Black and Catholic? It means that I come to my Church fully functioning… I bring myself, my Black self, all
I am, all I have, all that I’m worth, all I hope to become. I bring my whole history, my tradition, my experience, my culture, my African-American song and dance, gesture and movement, teaching and preaching and healing, and responsibility as a gift to the Church.”
Have the courage to follow the star and stay focused on where our healing lies; Christ is our healer; come to him with your stories and history.
Father Tochi Iwuji is the director of the Office of Black Catholics and pastor of the Central Virginia Catholic Cluster.