Matthew 2:1-12
Rev. Caela Simmons Wood
First Congregational UCC, Manhattan, KS
January 4, 2026
Have you been following the journey of the Wise Men? As we speak, they’re in eastern Georgia and they should cross over into South Carolina in the next few days. There are around twenty of them, plus their support team that follows along in an RV. Everywhere they go, they are greeted by local elected officials and religious leaders, throngs of admirers, and first responders who help them stay safe. They wear long, orange robes and often walk barefoot or in socks. They left Fort Worth, Texas on October 26th and should arrive in Washington, D.C. on February 12th.
Who are these Wise Men? They are Buddhist monks on a 2,300 mile Walk for Peace to “promote national healing, unity, and compassion.” According to their own press release:
Buddhist monks dedicate their lives to preserving, practicing, and sharing the teachings of the Buddha through renunciation, meditation, study, and compassionate service. Following the Buddha’s example, monks often undertake long walking pilgrimages—spiritual journeys that may last for months. During the Walk for Peace, participating monks will observe a strict ascetic code inspired by these ancient traditions—including eating only one meal per day and sleeping beneath trees—as a practice of humility, endurance, and spiritual focus.
Rooted in both spiritual devotion and civic purpose, the Walk for Peace seeks to remind
Americans that peace is not a destination—it is a practice. As the nation faces challenges of division, mental health crises, and conflict both at home and abroad, this pilgrimage offers a simple yet profound message: peace begins within the heart of each person and extends outward to families, communities, and the nation as a whole.
“We walk not to protest, but to awaken the peace that already lives within each of us,” said Bhikkhu Pannakara, spiritual leader of the Walk for Peace. “The Walk for Peace is a simple yet meaningful reminder that unity and kindness begin within each of us and can radiate outward to families, communities, and society as a whole.” [1]
Although these Wise Men have been walking for several months, it wasn’t until this past week that I found out about them. Another pastor mentioned them in a Facebook group I’m a part of and how they reminded her of the Magi. Intrigued, I went and looked for more information about them and before long, my algorithm was feeding me story after story about their 2,300 mile journey, pointing the way to peace.
It made me think about how the Magi in Matthew’s gospel must have started their journey long before their presence showed up in people’s newsfeeds. Like the venerable monks making their way across the southern United States, their journey was quiet, at first. We don’t know too much about the Magi - just that they were religious outsiders from far away. They were likely Zoroastrian priests from present-day Iran. Outsiders in every sense of the word. Maybe there were just a couple of them. Or maybe it was a whole group like today’s Buddhist monks.
We don’t know their names. And, in this way, they also remind me of the Walk for Peace. It’s not easy to find any information online about the individual monks who are walking for peace. They seem content to stay out of the spotlight and present themselves as a unit.
But there is ONE of the walkers who shines a bit brighter than the others: Aloka the Peace Dog. If you look at videos and photos of the venerable monks online, you’ll almost always see Aloka nearby. He’s often up front, leading the pack. Or doubling back to check that everyone is accounted for. 2,300 miles is a lot of miles on those little paws, so sometimes the crew forces Aloka to ride for a few miles in the RV. He’s never very happy about that and stays glued to the window, whining a bit and watching over his people.
Aloka’s story is incredible. He found the monks several years ago when they were on a pilgrimage in India. He was a stray who started following the group and, eventually, became a part of the pack. He walked with them day after day. Slept with them as they camped outdoors at night. By the end of their journey, they were family. Aloka had some health problems, but with the help of veterinarians, they nursed him back to good health and made sure he was eating well. When the pilgrimage was over, it was clear they were meant to be together, so a few of the monks worked hard and brought him back to the United States.
Aloka means “light,” and his definitely shines bright. He has his own social media accounts now, with hundreds of thousands of followers. But the monks very intentionally use his celebrity to amplify their message. Everything about this “Peace Dog” is focused on their message of peace. Over and over again, photos and videos of Aloka mention peace.
“Aloka was looking like a very tough guard yesterday! Even with his gentle heart, he stood his ground with such a focused and protective look, making sure everything was safe for the venerable monks. It’s amazing to see his transition from a playful companion to a dedicated guardian of the peace.”
“Aloka is starting the new year in the best way possible—with a relaxing morning massage! He looked so peaceful while receiving some extra care. It is the perfect ‘peace pose’ for a new year morning, showing us all how important it is to take a moment to rest and recharge. With a happy heart and a relaxed spirit, Aloka is ready for the beautiful path ahead!”
This relentless focus on peace brings a powerful reminder about the power of intentionality. Just as the Magi were singularly focused on seeking Jesus, the venerable monks are singularly focused on spreading their message of peace.
It makes me wonder about the ways we will each choose to focus our attention in the coming year. Our attention is arguably the most important thing we possess. And as the world seems to spin faster and faster, our attention can feel like it’s becoming less and less under our control. Our devices ding and ping us. We rapidly switch from task to task or sometimes try to complete a number of tasks all at once. People clamor for our attention at work and sometimes at home, too. The stress of modern living can make it difficult for many to focus their attention on anything for more than a few moments at a time. We grow frustrated when we try to read or complete daily tasks and lose our focus.
In all of the clamor, how often does our spiritual growth and sustenance register as something that needs our attention? We’re not all called to be monks who walk for peace or priests who travel across nations to find the Christ child, but we are all called to pay attention to our own spiritual journeys. No one else is going to do it for us. And heaven knows this world is certainly not set up to make it a priority. The forces that wield power in this world would like to see us distracted and unfocused.
That’s part of what makes the Magi’s story so powerful, I think. They were focused. Focused on only one thing: following that bright star to find the Christ child. Herod tried to intervene and claim their attention, but they weren’t interested in what he was offering. Their singular focus made them brave enough to withstand the threats of Empire. Paying attention to their dreams, they were savvy enough to figure out their way home by another route, ensuring their own safety and Jesus’s as well.
Our modern-day Wise Men are similarly singularly focused. Their entire endeavor is about pointing the way to peace. There’s nothing complicated about it. It’s not a complex protest or movement. It’s just a group of monks (and their dog) putting one foot in front of the other, day after day. They move quietly. They live simply. They pause to pray, teach, and rest. And then they get up the next day and do it again with the singular goal of helping us all remember that peace begins with us.
As we begin a new year, it is my prayer for you that something sacred captures your attention. That you can use the time you are blessed with each day to focus on something Spirit-led. Move quietly. Live simply. Pause to pray, teach, and rest. Even though the world often feels like it’s on fire, don’t forget to seek moments of joy with your favorite furry companions. And as you get up the next day to do it all over again, may you know the blessing of community for the journey. And may you feel the Spirit’s breath carrying you along. May it be so.
NOTES:
[2] https://www.facebook.com/Alokathepeacedog
