When the wise men reached Bethlehem, they were overjoyed. Now they could say that their mission was accomplished. They could not have found happiness in Herod’s palace, for it was a den of hunger for power, fear, deception and murder. There would be no future for a king who had to protect his throne by killings. They had experienced darkness, but now they saw the light of the world. They met somebody who was the opposite of Herod, who could give life to the fullest, not to a handful of people but to all, no matter what nation they belonged to. In our desire for happiness, we may also have searched for it in a palace and still be without it. We may have drifted away from God in search of the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and discovered finally it was empty. In Bethlehem they experienced joy for Jesus was there.
When we meet Jesus, we can hopefully express the same feelings as the magi. They were joyful. Are we joyful Christians? Do we attend mass joyfully, or is it an obligation that we cannot escape? Do we see the teachings of Jesus as burdens that poison life or do we practice them with joy, believing that they will bring about a better family life and a deeper community spirit? Are our prayers joyful? Can we thank God for all the good we have received like our health, parents, education, family, talents or do we see only what is lacking in our person, achievements, spouse, children neighbors?
