The Epiphany of the Lord – Cycle A
Reflecting on Mt. 2: 1-12
There have been some unbalanced people on thrones throughout history, but they don’t come any crazier than Herod the Great. Matthew gives us the dark narrative of the malevolent way in which Herod tried to trick the Magi into returning to Jerusalem with the GPS coordinates of the new king of the Jews.
That I too may give him homage, he said to them. That must have been their first clue that the wisest move would be to return in the opposite direction.
The story of the massacre of the Holy Innocents did not come out of nowhere. Herod― so neurotic about losing his royal status that he murdered his wife Mariamne and several of his sons because he either feared they were plotting against him or they really were plotting against him― was a terrifying figure in the ancient world.
A master builder, yes. But he was so loathed by his subjects that, when he fell off the litter his slaves were using to carry him to his summer palace one sweltering day, he was slow to revive. Eventually they― cautiously and then exuberantly― began celebrating what they thought was his demise.
But rumors of his death were exaggerated, and when he awoke to singing and carousing he pronounced the following: I command that on the day of my death, all the Jewish elders in Jerusalem be brought into the Herodium and murdered. That way I can make certain there will be true grief over my death.
Blessedly, his sister outlived him and withdrew the death sentence. May all world leaders experience the Epiphany that brought foreigners from afar, but eluded the king who lived five miles away.
What important gifts might you be missing because of your own insecurities?
Kathy McGovern ©2017