The Unreachable Star

The star of Bethlehem is dense with meaning. It inspires wonder and mystery. But most of all, as illuminated as it was, it sought only to draw attention to the light of Christ.

During Advent, my children and I were watching the animated movie, The Star, which tells the nativity story from the perspective of the animals who traveled with Mary and Joseph. Along the way, Mary and Joseph are met with one obstacle after another. It seems that everything is going wrong and Mary says, “This must be part of God’s plan.” A frustrated Joseph responds sarcastically, “So far this plan is going great. I can’t wait to see what happens next.”

Could it be that even Mary and Joseph questioned God’s plan? I don’t know about all of you, but if God gives me a mission, I assume that He will take care of everything. But here you have the Holy Family who couldn’t so much as find a room to spend the night. How can that be? Why would God allow such uncertainty to befall a woman in labor with His son, to seemingly abandon the most important woman in the world?

It was part of God’s plan. He willed to be born in a manger, to be in solidarity with the poor and the homeless, to express His total lack of disdain for all people and animals.

It’s easy to think that the saints had an easier time of things. Take Joan of Arc. The angels told her exactly what to do and what to say and who to say it to. Meanwhile, the rest of us are stuck trying to figure everything out through good old-fashioned discernment. And try as we might, we could still get things wrong. But then we remember the fact that Joan’s family disowned her and she was publicly mocked and ridiculed for attempting to lead the military as a woman without any prior training. And then there’s the whole burning at the stake bit.

Turns out, things weren’t easy for any of them. Following that star is never easy. Ever. It may very well be impossible. But then again, “with God, all things are possible.” Matt 19:26.

The song, “The Impossible Dream” has recently been on my heart.

To dream the impossible dream,
To fight the unbeatable foe,
To bear with unbearable sorrow,
To run where the brave dare not go.

To right the unrightable wrong,
To love pure and chaste from afar,
To try when your arms are too weary,
To reach the unreachable star!

This is my quest,
To follow that star,
No matter how hopeless,
No matter how far,
To fight for the right,
Without question or pause,
To be willing to march into Hell
For a Heavenly cause!

Ultimately, the journey is what matters. We must set our eyes on following the star to Jesus, no matter what obstacles we face along the way. Some of us may have more difficult roads to travel than others. Some of us may walk around in circles for decades, confused as to where the star is leading us. But whichever path we’re led down, we know Christ is at the end waiting for us.

This is my quest, to follow that star. May I never stray from it.

To God be the Glory!