In proclaiming the Jubilee Year, Pope Francis invited us to be, Pilgrims of Hope. It was, he said, “to be a year of personal and communal renewal and hope”. [1]
Significantly, the Jubilee Year began with the opening of the Holy Door on Christmas Eve when our focus was on the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. Emmanuel, the source of life and hope, was to be our focus. Again, we heard, the invitation: ‘Follow Me’ – be pilgrims of hope; proclaim the good news of God’s abiding presence in all things, and plant seeds of hope and compassion in a fractured world.
The feast of the Epiphany (6 January)[2] marks the conclusion of the Jubilee Year. This feast recalls the journey of the Magi to Bethlehem. This may be seen as a fitting conclusion to the Christmas story.
Epiphany marks a new beginning! The Epiphany celebrates the revelation of Christ to the entire world! Emmanuel is here with us, whoever we are and wherever we are in the world!
Who were the Magi and how might their journey inspire us as a pilgrim people?
The Magi came from the east – signalling the dawning of a new day. We recall the women who came seeking Jesus at dawn on resurrection day. The One we seek each day is the risen Christ who is always present.
The Magi followed a star and met the Light of the world! Who or what is the ‘star’ that guides us to Christ?
They found Jesus lying in a manger and allowed themselves to enter deeply into the mystery of the incarnation.
Like the disciples at Emmaus, ‘their eyes were opened and their hearts burned within them’ as they offered their gifts and adoration to the Christ child.
They went home by a ‘different way’. Inspired by their experience of meeting Jesus, they began proclaiming Christ’s presence to all they met. This is our baptismal mission too – to spread the good news of the Gospel by the way we live.
The Magi studied the universe relying on the guidance of the stars and planets throughout their journey. They brought gifts of earth – gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Traditionally, we interpret these gifts as symbols of love, prayer, and compassion. The imagery hidden within these gifts of earth, challenges us to gaze with wonder, and reverence at God’s presence in all creation.
The story of the Magi is a portrait of what it means to be a pilgrim of hope – to recognise Christ in our midst and to bring gifts of compassion, kindness, and generosity to those around us.
While the Jubilee Year concludes on feast of the Epiphany, our journey as pilgrims of hope does not! Like the Magi, we continue to seek Christ in and through the events of each day.
Pope Leo XIV in his Apostolic Letter (27.10.2025), encourages us to keep ‘drawing new maps of hope’ as we live into the future.
Carmel Drew rsj
Footnotes:
[1] https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/bulls/documents/20240509_spes-non-confundit_bolla-giubileo2025.html
[2] The feast of the Epiphany is celebrated on 4 January 2026 in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.