JESUS MAFA. The Three Wise Men, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN.

The star of the Christ leads me by the light of love, hope, compassion, and peace to reveal God’s goodness in me, my neighbor, and the world.

Other stars in our world attract me with the promise of riches, power, ease, and fame.

And then there are the dark stars that seduce me into depression, despair, and discontent.

I must choose with the wisdom of the magi the star I will follow.

And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. Matthew 2:9b