The Star of Bethlehem

The most common symbol of Christmas in the Philippines is the Star of Bethlehem, commonly called “parol.”  It may have originated in Mexico with the “pinyata,” which is a fragile, pineapple-shaped jar of clay, filled with candies and sweets and hanged in the ceiling.  It is used in a game for children, “breaking the pot,” played during Christmastime.    This “pinyata” was introduced to the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period, and it evolved into the “parol” as we see it today.  

Let us read now from the Gospel of Matthew the visit of the wise men from the east.  It is in this story that the Star of Bethlehem is mentioned.  

^NJB Matthew 2:1 After Jesus had been born at Bethlehem in Judaea during the reign of King Herod, suddenly some wise men came to Jerusalem from the east ² asking, 'Where is the infant king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose and have come to do him homage.' ³ When King Herod heard this he was perturbed, and so was the whole of Jerusalem. ⁴ He called together all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, and enquired of them where the Christ was to be born. ⁵ They told him, 'At Bethlehem in Judaea, for this is what the prophet wrote: ⁶ And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, you are by no means the least among the leaders of Judah, for from you will come a leader who will shepherd my people Israel.' ⁷ Then Herod summoned the wise men to see him privately. He asked them the exact date on which the star had appeared ⁸ and sent them on to Bethlehem with the words, 'Go and find out all about the child, and when you have found him, let me know, so that I too may go and do him homage.' ⁹ Having listened to what the king had to say, they set out. And suddenly the star they had seen rising went forward and halted over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ The sight of the star filled them with delight, ¹¹ and going into the house they saw the child with his mother Mary, and falling to their knees they did him homage. ⁹ Having listened to what the king had to say, they set out. And suddenly the star they had seen rising went forward and halted over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ The sight of the star filled them with delight, ¹¹ and going into the house they saw the child with his mother Mary, and falling to their knees they did him homage. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh. ¹² But they were given a warning in a dream not to go back to Herod, and returned to their own country by a different way.

          This story that we just read may be entitled “The Discovery of the Child.”  The wise men discovered the child Jesus because of the guidance of a star.  In ancient times, a unique star heralded the birth of a great man.  Some scholars say that the star may have been a comet and the wise men were astrologers.  They even identified the comet to be Halley’s Comet which appeared on October in the year 12 A.D.

The Star may symbolize our faith.  Through our faith, we discover Jesus.  Through faith, we encounter Him.  Another meaning of the Star of Bethlehem is given by Pope Benedict XVI.   “Christ is the star that has risen for us…  To look at the star means receiving light and giving light, radiating in the world around us the light that we have received, so that I can provide orientation to others too,” he wrote.  Looking at the star, that is, looking up to Jesus, allowing ourselves to be enlightened, transformed by Him and rejoicing in Him – this is the meaning of Christmas!  Then, sharing that joy and peace with others – this too is the meaning of Christmas!  This is what the Star of Bethlehem may teach us.