I’ve always loved the stars of the night sky. As a boy, I had glow-in-the-dark constellations on the ceiling of my bedroom. I even had a glow-in-the-dark book of constellations which was my faithful guide to the heavens. One of the harder parts of living in the city for me is that all the lights mute the stars.

That’s part of the reason I take such interest in Balaam’s prophecy. But I’m in good company. The Fathers of the Church saw Balaam’s vision as the first prophecy of the Star of Bethlehem, the mysterious light which guided the Magi to the newborn King.