When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the new born king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage?”

Matthew 2:1-2

The Magi were from Persia. They were astronomers who closely tracked the moment of heavenly bodies and claimed to read them as omens of earthly events. Unlike the Jewish people they did not look God and his law to direct their steps. The Magi would have never sought out the Jewish Messiah on their own, until God presents them with a defining moment.

While they had studied the stars their whole life, suddenly they see something completely different from anything they have ever seen before. They see a star that breaks from the usual template or script for what they have previously observed. And this begins a journey that leads the Magi to Jesus.

This is often how defining moments come to us. We are going about our normal routine and then something different gets our attention. When has God got your attention by doing something different that broke your usual routine? Pray today for the grace to be aware of these moments in the future.