Celebrated American astronomer Carl Sagan famously said, “We are made of star stuff.” This phrase – delivered during Sagan’s 1980 TV show “Cosmos: A Personal Voyage” – immediately lodged itself in the psyche of his audience. What a stirring idea – that as we look upon the distant stars that illuminate the vast night sky we can claim a physical connection with them. 

I have long been fascinated by this notion. It has the power to make one feel important and small at the same time, and though it does not come from a position of faith it seems to flow from a natural state of spiritual longing. We feel as though we share in the nature of Something much greater than ourselves. We are united by this, and are compelled to grow closer to It.

Nothing embodies this notion more than the expedition of the Three Magi. Melchior, Gaspar and Balthazar set out upon a journey to discover the Incarnation of the Lord, the Prince of Peace, the Only Begotten Son of God. They followed a star, “His star,” a Divine star.

The star appeared distant at first, but these wise men recognized – with spiritual insight – that it was calling them. God’s love emanated in from the Star of Bethlehem, and the Magi recognized that love within their hearts. An age ago, perhaps the wise men would have proclaimed, “We are made of God stuff.”

Their spiritual curiosity was rewarded with a simple but immeasurably profound gift. They were the first to find Christ, the first to bow to Him, the first to adore him. Every Christmas gives us a similar opportunity to embark on a journey of discovery, follow a star both distant and familiar, and find ourselves standing in awe in the presence of both our origin and our destiny.

Happy New Year and Merry Christmas! Christ is born and revealed, blessed is the revelation of Christ!
Քրիստոս ծնաւ և հայտնեցաւ։ Մեզ և Ձեզ մեծ աւետիս։
Շնորհավոր ամանոր եւ Սուրբ Ծնունդ։