by: Sr. Ana Gonzalez, OP

On Christmas Day, the season's cheer permeated the atmosphere at the Columbus Motherhouse. Beautiful decorations, brightly lit Christmas trees, and delicious treats all contributed to the cheer of Christmas as we acknowledged our hope in the Resurrection and waited for Emanuel.

While enjoying a delicious meal, I was approached by Sister Pat Mood, OP.  After we wished each other a Merry Christmas, Pat asked, “Have you received your gift from the Creche yet?” She explained that these gifts were cards bearing the name of a spiritual companion, part of a tradition inherited from the foremothers of the Dominican Sisters of Catherine De Ricci, a tradition that the Columbus Motherhouse community continues to enjoy. These companion cards are intended to create opportunities for reflection during the Christmas season and at the start of the New Year.  Some of these cards included reflections about Mary, the Angel Gabriel, Joseph, and the animals.

At the entrance to our delightful Chapel, the Nativity Scene greeted me. Surrounding Baby Jesus were a set of spiritual gifts, represented by a series of cards, as Sister Pat had shared with me. I picked up my card and was delighted with my spiritual companion, “My Child, I leave you the Magi, so that you may learn from Holy Wisdom and search the ways of the Gospel.” I was surprised! Lord knows that I need all the Holy Wisdom I can get. As a religious sister, I am committed to living my life according to the Gospel. So, the invitation to learn Holy Wisdom and search the ways of the Gospel is on point for me.

My surprise also stemmed from the fact that I had been navigating with the Magi during the 2025 Jubilee Holy Year. There was no way Sr. Pat knew that earlier in January, I planned and conducted a retreat for the confirmation class at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Lawrence, Massachusetts. The core of the retreat was embracing the pilgrimage to Jesus with Los Reyes Magos (The Magi). During the retreat, we focused on the pilgrimage from the East following the star to Jesus. As pilgrims of hope, the Magi embarked on a journey into the unknown, following the star looking for the King of Kings. It was lovely to see the way the young students took on their pilgrimage of hope and interacted with the text. Like the Magi, they too learned what it meant to embark on a lifelong quest to encounter the King of Kings in their lives. The retreat also invited the Latino youth to embrace the fact that they are divine and royal, just like the Magi. Finally, like the Magi, they too have a treasure to share with God and the People of God.

The story of the Magi keeps showing up for me in various moments of my life. Most recently, as part of the Dominican Sisters of Peace Vocations Team, we hosted an Emmaus Discernment and Prayer Group gathering on the theme, "Following the Star: The Wisdom of the Magi." As part of this gathering, we prayed with the Epiphany narrative in Matthew 2:1-12. The group was able to reflect on the story of the Magi, their journey to finding Jesus, and the transformative power of encountering God among us. We had the opportunity to reflect on what it means to encounter God. For some of us, encountering Jesus has drastically transformed us. Like the Magi, after meeting Jesus, we were not the same. Like the Magi, as we returned to the ordinary after encountering the extraordinary, the journey was different because we were different.

Another Magi story takes me back to 2010, when I attended my first Come and See Retreat in Oxford, Michigan. Leading up to the retreat, I knew I felt called to something. As a good Latina, I was sold on the idea of being a mother, yet I was not too excited about this prospect. After several months of conversations and prayer, I decided to journey into the unknown, following an invitation to pray and to get to know God more deeply. The experience was transformative. I learned new forms of prayer, I felt at home, and I knew, deep in my heart, that I desired more! Returning home, I was a different person, and my concept of home aligned with my desire to live a life in which prayer, community, study, and ministry were the pillars that allowed me to walk closer to my continued encounter with God and to the expectancy of Jesus. Like the Wise Magi, I was not the same and have not been the same ever since.

After receiving the gift of the Creche in the Motherhouse Chapel, I have been meditating on the Wisdom of the Magi. Most recently, after listening to readings on Epiphany Sunday, my meditation took me to Herod. The narrative of the Magi tells us that the Wise Magi were following the Star to find the King of Israel. At some point, the Magi lose sight of the Star and arrive in Jerusalem at the palace of the King. To me, this is not an accident or the Magi getting lost. The arrival of the Magi at the palace was an invitation for Herod to join them on their journey and encounter God. The story tells us that the chief priests and scribes in the palace knew of the prophecy to the King of Israel. The scribes and chief priests knew the messianic prophecy and chose to be complacent. Herod was faced with the opportunity to encounter salvation and transformation, but instead, he was stubborn and held to his illusion of power and control. Herod, rather than joining the Magi on the journey of transformation and encounter with God, points them in the right direction with bad intentions. The Magi's visit is a lost opportunity for Herod. We are told that the Magi embark on their journey, they rejoice in seeing the star and resume their pursuit. Their journey culminates in the encounter between Jesus and Mary in a humble house. Finally, the Wise Men return to the East following a different path.

Inspired by Sister Pat’s encouragement to receive my spiritual companion and gift from the Nativity Creche, I start 2026 aware that I, too, can be like Herod. I can be comfortable and complacent with my limited experience of the known. I must not forget that in 2010, I began an exciting adventure into the unknown, looking for my encounter with Jesus. I must keep my heart and ears open to the Magi that comes into my life, inviting me to embrace the unknown journey. God sends us opportunities to encounter the transformative, salvific power of Jesus. I want to be like the Magi. I want to follow the Star of God’s light and, with Holy Wisdom, continue my lifelong journey to the ways of the Word of God.

“My Child, I leave you The Magi,
so that you may learn from Holy Wisdom and
Search the Ways of the Gospel.”

Are you ready to follow the wisdom of the Magi and embrace the journey of transformation as you encounter the ways of God?  Soon, Lent will offer us another opportunity to reflect on God’s love revealed in the Paschal Mystery of Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection. Why not join us during the Lenten season for our Zoom and See retreat, February 27-28, 2026.  Click here for details about this retreat and for the registration form.