December 13th, 2024
Birthplace of Christ, photo by Clarissa Cervantes
What if stars were gifts from God to brighten the darkness every night?
As I enter this sacred time of advent and follow the lights, I cannot think enough about the Magi. This was a group of very wise men who followed the brightest light on their way to baby Jesus, the Star of Bethlehem. The five-point star, mentioned at Matthew’s gospel is one of the brightest lights ever documented in history. A conjunction of planets, perhaps a comet or a guiding angel, reveals Jesus’s birthplace. History or mystery, and despite all the theories involving religious and science matters, when I place a star on top of my Christmas tree, I too rejoice with great joy, knowing about the birth of Our Savior, who embodied the light of hope and salvation!
As a travel researcher and photographer, I had the great opportunity to visit Israel before the current war, more specifically the Church of The Nativity, the oldest church in the Holyland. There a fourteen-point star below the altar marks the exact location where Jesus Christ was born as well as the fourteen generations from the time of Abraham to David to Jesus Christ. Words cannot describe the power and awe to kneel at Jesus’s exact birthplace. A profound experience of pure love, gratitude, belonging, and joy.
My sisters and brothers, I wish you a very Merry Christmas, and may this Advent season bring you light and love. Perhaps, you might find time to look up to the sky and gaze at the natural beauty and light of stars.
Clarissa Cervantes is a photographer, physical therapist, poet and researcher. Clarissa strives to create meaningful Catholic images and articles to inspire and uplift readers. Clarissa holds a Doctoral in Physical Therapy, where she found her vocation to help as well as to deliver comfort to people all over the world through her images and words. For Clarissa every image captured, and poem written represents her faith, which is a gift from God to be shared with others and to encourage one another to find beauty and gratitude in their daily lives. Clarissa made her vows as a Pauline Lay Cooperator and never looked back. Through her writing and photography, she has been published on the Pauline Association Magazine, L.A Catholics Magazine, Angelus News Magazine, EWTN Media Missionaries and The Young Catholic Woman Blog.