You're listening to I Pray with the Gospel on the St. Jose Maria Institute podcast.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

My Lord and my God, I firmly believe that you are here, that you see me, that you hear me.

I adore you at profound reverence.

I ask your pardon for my sins and the grace to make this time of prayer fruitful.

My Immaculate Mother, St. Joseph, my Father and Lord, my guardian angel, intercede for me.

The Epiphany of Our Lord. A reading from the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 2.

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king,

behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,

saying, where is he who has been born the king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east,

and have come to worship him. They went their way and lo, a star which they had seen in the east,

went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star,

they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy, and going into the house they saw the child with Mary,

his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts,

gold, frankincense, and myrr.

These wise men sit out in search of a heavenly king. They left everything behind, the comfort of their homes, the security and their lives,

their plans, families, friends, towns, belongings.

They left everything and went in pursuit of Jesus. That's what they were looking for.

When they found the king in the manger, they were not disappointed. They adored him and gave him their

gifts. But their initiative wasn't theirs. God made the first move. To call them, he put a sign in the sky so that they could discover it and seek him.

We often hear of men's search for God, but seldom, if ever, hear of God's search for us.

The truth is that God first seeks us out so that we might seek him.

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