“We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.”  The Epiphany of the Lord is a great moment in time and an amazing image in scripture for us to take into prayerful contemplation and consider God’s desire to be with us and to walk with those who made the possibility of being in God’s presence the most important event and prized possession in their lives. We must take the Epiphany to heart and into silent prayer for we can learn so much about ourselves and where our own journey is taking us. We must take a closer look at this encounter with the Divine for it offers us a valuable lesson about the hearts of people who were relentless in their pursuit to encounter the Lord. It speaks of individuals who fasted from the comforts and riches of their own life because they hungered and thirsted for God’s life more. It gives us a glimpse into the souls of individuals that desired nothing more than to adore the Lord and offer him the finest gifts we can give God; the precious gift of an undivided heart and our undivided attention. Why would these individuals who had all life had to offer: wealth, prestige, intelligence, status, leave the comfort of their homes and lands to follow a star? Why would they forego their work and businesses they worked so hard to establish and which afforded them luxury and security to chase a dream? Why would they separate themselves from their families, friends, society and the privileges awarded them as wise men to validate a prophecy? Why would they risk such a long, perilous journey through unknown lands, rough terrains, hostile territories to see a child? Because they simply believed. They hoped to encounter the Christ. Their faith told them the prophecy was true. They desired to see the gift of our salvation more than anything.  What would you do to see the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God? Perhaps we can begin by desiring to spend more time in prayer and to have a greater longing to encounter Jesus in adoration and offer him our undivided attention and give him the gift of an undivided heart.  Scripture says adoration by right belongs to the Lamb of God. Adoration simply requires us to seek the face of God. To desire to be in God’s presence. To desire to be with God more than anything. To silence our phones and to silence our hearts and to put ourselves in the presence of the Divine. Fr. Ivan