Richard Schuler writes this:
Sign seen outside the Lighthouse Baptist Church in St. Louis:
When we are poised with a difficult decision in our life, don’t we all say to God: “just give me a sign!” I know I do. Back in 1984, after my first month in college seminary in Ogdensburg NY, I was really struggling with fitting into Catholic schooling for the first time in my life, and I remember sitting in the chapel, asking God just to give me a sign. Later that afternoon, I was in a car accident that should have killed me, but I walked away without even a scratch, even without wearing a safety belt. I was perfectly healthy, and yet without a vehicle to drive back to New Hampshire, even if I wanted to. I remember being in chapel later that day, and saying to God, “That was not the sign I was looking for!”
And God does enlighten us along our journeys, doesn’t he? Many times, in some very unexpected ways or through the words of a complete stranger.
In today’s Gospel from Matthew, we hear the story of the Epiphany, in which wiseman come a very long way, bringing with them some very odd gifts. Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. We all know by now that these gifts represent kingship, divinity, and redemptive suffering.
These wisemen traveled following a sign from God, a star. Which means they traveled by night. Once that star stopped, the wisemen knew exactly where to go. Once they witnessed the baby Jesus, their lives were forever changed.
If we are ever lucky enough to witness a ‘sign’ from God, and we’re willing to take the leap of faith and follow, even in our darkness, to where God wants us to stop and witness something awesome, may our lives be ever changed for the better!
Amen!