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A Tale of Two Kings

In the time of King Herod,
after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,
magi from the east came to Jerusalem, asking,
“Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews?"

The magi’s story is a familiar one.

As we remember it, three wise men from the East see a star, follow it, arrive at a gathering with Mary and the baby, present gifts of gold, myrrh, and frankincense, and return home.

The Bible, however, tells a deeper story than the arrival of an unknown number of the magi and company heading toward Jerusalem.

The action begins when King Herod hears about a child, the king of the Jews, born in Jerusalem.

Merciless King Herod feels threatened and reacts with cunning and violence.

Herod gathers his priests, Jewish scribes, and Pharisees, who, by consulting texts, tell him the child is born in Bethlehem.

Herod asks the magi to find this king of the Jews so he can pay homage.

The magi, seeing a star, recalculate their travel destination and head towards Bethlehem.

The star settles over the house of Mary and the holy child.

The magi discover the star has led them to the kingdom of heaven, where they can offer their treasures of Gold, myrrh, and frankincense.

The magi are overjoyed when they realize they are in the presence of a king and a savior.

So, we have two kings: one ruling a kingdom of this world; the other, a savior, the king of heaven.

The magi's example for us is to follow the signs to the holy, lay your treasure, obey the God of holy dreams, and go home another way.

But the story continues as Herod and his family continue a murderous reign never realizing they are not the real kings.

The King of Heaven, guiding the holy family, surpasses earthly kingdoms by welcoming the stranger, feeding the hungry, and following God's holy dreams.


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