Today we celebrate the Epiphany, when the wise men visited the child Jesus. They were willing to follow a star to a distant land to find the Lord. How far are we willing to go? Christopher Alt, SJ, delivers this week’s One-Minute Homily. Based on the readings for Sunday, January 3, 2021.
What’s the secret of life? Today’s Feast gives us a hint.
Hi, I’m Christopher Alt, and this is my One-Minute reflection.
In the movie City Slickers, Mitch, an existentially confused urban dweller asks Curly, the rough cowboy, a question: What’s the secret of life? Curly lifts up one finger. “What does that mean?”, asks Mitch. “It means one thing, you stick to that,” says Curly, “and everything else don’t mean nothing.”
On the Feast of the Epiphany, the three wise men give up their palaces, power, and possessions; they say farewell to the most cherished people in the lives to pursue a deeper calling. And from there, they proceed on one mission, they focus on one star, and it leads them to one stable, where they encounter one person, in whom their wildest dreams are fulfilled.
Today’s feast invites us to focus on the “one thing,” Christ, and that all other pursuits mean nothing in comparison.
When we do finally encounter Christ and refuse to hand him over to any Herod or earthly power, then, we will have become truly wise.