Bottom line: Where the sun is, the stars have no light. Astrology and naturalism fade when one discovers Christ.

I'd like to begin this Epiphany homily by describing one of the most beautiful sights a person can see. I admit I have rarely seen it because it involves getting up very early in the morning - before dawn, when there are still stars visible in the sky. The sun has not yet risen, but you can see its light on the eastern horizon. Little by little the stars begin to disappear. Soon there is only one left and it is not a star. It is the planet Venus. Finally the light of the sun overcomes Venus, the Morning Star.

Something like this happens in today's Gospel. Wise Men - also called Magi or astrologers or The Three Kings - come from the east because they have seen a "star." We don't know exactly what the star refers to. The Chicago Planetarium once had an exhibit title "The Star of Bethlehem." They reconstructed the heavens around the time of Jesus' birth and speculated that the star may have referred to a comet, some configuration of planets or perhaps the Morning Star itself. Whatever it was, the star led to Jesus. But when the Magi found Jesus, things changed. Jesus was like the sun rising at dawn. The Wise Men no longer need stars and planets. They now had the bright, life-giving sun.

The poet Lope de Vega wrote a beautiful poem about this. It is worth learning Spanish just to read this one poem. Its title is: La llegada de los reyes magos. The arrival of the Magi Kings. Lope de Vega describes how the star guided them in the dark night, but when they found Jesus, the stars faded. Although it is difficult to translate Lope de Vega's poem into English, let me try a few lines.

You Kings, who come from the East,
are searching the night sky
looking at the their beautiful lights.

Do not follow them now
for where the sun is
the stars have no light.

The Child shines upon you.
And where the sun is
the stars have no light.

Lope de Vega is thinking about the practice of astrology. It was something that attracted him, but he realized that if he was going to follow Christ, he would have to give up astrology. That could be hard for many people - perhaps some in this congregation. The Catechism, however, makes it clear that a Christian has to choose: "Consulting horoscopes, astrology, (etc.) contradict(s) the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone." (2116) Where the sun is, the stars have no light.

There is a more subtle way people want to put their trust the stars, instead of Christ. A famous astronomer named Carl Sagan said, "we are star stuff." That is a poetic phrase and it is true as far as it goes. The matter that forms us was ultimately forged in the furnace of stars. But, unfortunately, Sagan meant it in an absolute sense: We are only star stuff. For him - and for philosophical naturalists - that is all we are.* As Christians, we take a different view. We admit that we are material beings, but we believe that we are something more. When we encounter Christ, his light overwhelms even the stars. Astrology - and naturalism - fade when one discovers Christ.

Today's Gospel tells what happened when the Magi Kings met Jesus. They gave him their greatest gifts. Gold represents wealth and power. Frankincense and myrrh had legitimate uses, but they were also utilized in occult practices. The Magi placed all this at Jesus' feet. Then they returned to their land, not guided by stars but more directly by God. They had looked upon the sun and they knew that the stars - beautiful as they are - are dim by comparison.

Do not follow them now
for where the sun is
the stars have no light.

The Child shines upon you.
And where the sun is
the stars have no light.

Aware that Jesus is the light of of the World, we now listen to the Proclamation of the Date of Easter

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