CHRISTMAS AND POWER PLAYS

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea,
during the time of King Herod,
Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked,
“Where is the one who has been born
king of the Jews?
We saw his star when it rose
and have come to worship him.”
When King Herod heard this he was disturbed,
and all Jerusalem with him.
…Herod called the Magi secretly
and found out from them the exact
time the star had appeared.
…He sent them to Bethlehem and said,
“Go and search carefully for the child.
As soon as you find him,
report to me,
so that I too may go and worship him.”
…They went on their way.
…They bowed down and worshiped him.
And having been warned in a dream
not to go back to Herod,
they returned to their country by another route.

Matthew 2:1-3a, 8-9, 12 9 (Read 2:1-12) NIV

Dirty power play is nothing new. Matthew portrays King Herod as a power tyrant. Suddenly the threat of a rival appears in Jerusalem. A group of astrologers appears in Jerusalem and inquire about the birth of the new king of Israel. Herod is frightened but keeps his cool. He discreetly discovers the possible birthplace of the great danger to his throne. Pretending to have the same faith and devotion as the Magi, he sent them to confirm the incident and bring back a report.

The deceiver was deceived. The Magi returned to their homes by another route, and Herod waited in vain. It was too late when he found out that the supposed "Prey" had escaped from his grasp.

The narration of the birth of Jesus by the evangelist Matthew tells of the contrast between two types of power that exist in world - the power of self-promotion and the power of truth seeking.

Herod represents self-promotional power, the power that wants to keep what it has and gain even more. Herod was able to pretend devotion and to manipulate others in order to achieve his goals. This kind of power is found in all institutions, be they political, economic or religious. In the first Gospel, Herod kills many innocent children in an attempt to reach and destroy the baby Jesus. How many children, mothers, elderly and other innocent people suffer and die today as victims of people exercising their political, economic and religious power? Just turn on the TV and you will see scenes of violence, war, famine and other kinds of suffering. We have become so calloused that we feel no compassion for those millions of victims globally unless a few of them happen to be close to us. We get so upset by some domestic terrorist action but ignore the terrorism that we daily commit around the world.

The Magi astrologers represent the power that seeks Truth and is willing to give of itself for the benefit of others. This power is open to Truth and gives the best of its treasures. The Magi sought Truth in the stars which led them to a greater Truth on Earth. That Truth was a humble child facing the tyranny of its time. They saw what was hidden to others. Ambition blinds and destroys, but humility opens the eyes to a wider vision and builds new realities. As a result, the wise men were guided to follow another path back home.

The baby Jesus represents Truth, feared by some but adored by others. The Truth of Jesus should not be confused with the dogmas of the church and other religious groups. Institutions often use Jesus to promote their own power plays. The Truth of Jesus is nothing more or less than “Love in action”. Love transcends all institutions and all systems of belief.

The search for Truth is not the privilege of the “chosen few”. Probably the magi were "pagans" by our religious standards, but were seekers of Truth. Their search for Truth was much deeper than that of most of the so called "elect of Abraham” of that age. Expressions of love are in many cultures and religions. Where there is love, God is present, for God is Love. God/Love/Jesus/Truth are inseparable experiences!

The Christmas story reveals where God is in relation to all power plays.

MATTHEW 2:1-12 – NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV)

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for out of you will come a ruler

    who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.