December 13, 2015: A Star, A King and Wise Men – Jon Gettings

Herod was the King of the Jews – a title he begged and connived from Rome itself. He, in fact, was not a Jew, but an Edomite. Everything about him suggested he was not the real king of Israel and even the wise men from the East. Why? Because when they went to Herod they assumed the king of the Jews had not been born in the house of Herod, but somewhere else.

And it was this recognition that angered and terrified Herod and would have thrilled those reading Matthew’s gospel. The star pointing to Jesus as King told Herod he was not. Because this is what Jesus – in his very existence – does. In being King he simply shows others they are not. He does not need to oppose or argue or fight them. He is simply born. Perhaps this is what Mary meant when she sang her song about toppling leaders.