The Wise Men

“Behold, Wise Men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.’ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.” (Matthew 2:1-3)

You know the rest of the story all too well. After Herod poses as a well-wishing fellow adorer, the Wise Men continue on their merry way and find the child with his mother. They prostrate themselves in worship and present their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. They intend to give Herod the stable address, but an angel in a dream conveniently prevents their return to the king by hanging a huge detour sign over the palace. 

Matthew’s account of the Christmas story is worth meditating upon. I love to picture Jesus nestled in the protective arms of Mary. Picture the rich kings, born in the grand halls of Eastern palaces, now adoring a little baby born in the poverty of a stable. The Wise Men make me think of what gifts I myself can present to the Christ child, or of the great courage needed to leave every security and seek Jesus.

With all this rich material for prayer, I often pass over the details of Herod as historical background info.  But this time, I was really struck by one simple, seemingly insignificant sentence:

“When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all of Jerusalem with Him.” (Matthew 2:3)

To be fair, I can understand why Herod is troubled.  A few men from Persia show up on his doorstep babbling about a certain star and their intent to worship a new king of the Jews.  Surely, this situation made a light bulb go off for Herod. It must have reminded him of Balaam’s prophesy: “A star shall come forth out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel…Edom shall be dispossessed.” (Numbers 24:17-18).

Ok, I know we aren’t biblical scholars, and even with Advent readings we aren’t exactly experts on Old Testament prophesies.  First you should know that Herod is an Edomite (non-Jew), who was appointed by the Romans as king. He is troubled by this star and newborn king because he knows that He is the Edomite Balaam says will be dispossessed. He knows his kingdom will be overthrown and he will lose his power.

So Herod is troubled. Fair enough.  But all of Jerusalem with him?

Aren’t these the people who have been waiting for a Savior? Who lived through slavery in Egypt? Who wandered in the desert? Who were exiled in Babylon? The prophesies aren’t warning them of this new king—they are reassuring them that he is indeed coming! They know he is the Prince of Peace who is coming to restore unity, to destroy their enemies, and to establish a new Kingdom. 

They know that Jesus has come to save them from their brokenness.  And yet, the gospel says that all of Jerusalem is troubled.  How does this make any sense?

I am judging Herod, and I’m judging Jerusalem even more! They are troubled by the birth of their Savior. And yet, I can’t help but become embarrassed. I see myself in Herod. I see myself in all of Jerusalem. 

As the Savior of all mankind, Jesus came to save even Herod and welcome him into the eternal kingdom. Herod is troubled because he doesn’t want to give up his earthly kingdom and power. Like Herod, I too am troubled when God asks me to give up my attachments and power.  He has asked me to physically get rid of some of my belongings and to mortify my own will.  He has even asked me to give up certain friendships.  And it’s painful. Believe me, I cling to my possessions, to certain people and to my sense of control. Why? Because, like Herod, I don’t trust that what He has for me is better. But Jesus is trustworthy, and he empties only to fill.  He will take our earthly possessions only to give us his eternal riches in heaven. 

I know all too well that I am like the people of Jerusalem--enslaved to sin and wandering in confusion. Although they only had prophesies promising a Savior, I have the fulfillment. I know that Jesus has already become incarnate and come to save me from my brokenness.  And still, I am troubled when he comes to me.  How often have I avoided confession because I am troubled by the very mercy that will flood my soul and free me from the bonds of sin and death? How often am I troubled by the need to pray or go to Mass, seeing it as a mere item to check off on my to-do list?

This Christmas season, let’s throw away our foolish troubles.  Be not afraid--He has come to save us! Let’s rejoice that Jesus has come to fill us with greater riches than we can imagine (even if he empties us first). Let’s celebrate that He has come to save us from our brokenness and our sin.  Let’s run to him in Bethlehem with the Wise Men who left everything they had to worship a tiny baby under a shining star. 

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Mari Seaberg is a junior nursing major from Gilbert, Arizona.  Her favorite saint is St. Alphonsus Liguori, a Doctor of the Church. As a member of Women's Ministry Core Team, Mari feels called to "give myself in service to the women of this campus because the Lord has repeatedly shown me what a precious gift femininity is, lived out so uniquely by each individual woman. I hope to give of myself and to become a better daughter of the Father in the process."