Oblates of St. Francis de Sales

New DeSales World Newsletter - Summer Edition

THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD (January 7, 2007)

Suggested Emphasis

"Where is the newborn King of the Jews?"

Salesian Perspective

The magi left everything with which they were familiar to follow a unique star that they believed was a sign of a new age of power and possibility.

They were men on a mission. They were focused. They had the courage to conceive a dream and to pursue it with a sense of purpose. Nothing, no one, could deter them from their desire to follow the star, wherever it went.

Quite a contrast to us sometimes, observed St. Francis de Sales: "It is certainly a great pity to see souls - and there are only too many of them - who, while aiming at perfection, imagine that it consists in a great multitude of desires. They are always eagerly seeking the means to attain them, now here, now there. They are never content or tranquil, for as soon as they have formed one desire they try to conceive another." (Conference VII, Octave of the Epiphany, 1620)

Following the star is for the single-minded.

For most of us, finding the King of the Jews is not about leaving what is familiar. No, it is about paying attention to the people, circumstances and events that fill our daily lives. It is about focusing on the Star of life and love who is Jesus Christ. It is about being captured by the vision of justice and truth. It is about being driven by the promise and possibility of peace. It is about dedicating ourselves to the dream of reconciliation and healing no matter who or what may stand in our way.

Followers of Jesus, we too, are people on a mission. We must be focused. We must muster all of our thoughts, feelings, attitudes, energies and actions in our daily attempts to make real the dream of peace and justice. We must follow the Star who is Christ Jesus wherever he takes us.

Tempted as we are to pursue a multitude of desires on any given day, may God give us the vision and discipline we need to follow the one Desire that really matters, the true Desire that leads to light, that leads to life, that leads to love.

Forever.

Rev. Michael S. Murray, OSFS, is the Executive Director of the De Sales Spirituality Center.