See and Hear

When there's smoke, there's fire.

2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2 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.”

3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 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. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

6 “‘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.’[b]”

7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 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.”

9 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. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 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. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.-Matthew2:1-12

The Gospel reading is beautiful, simply beautiful. Except for one thing - no one else followed the star except the magi who followed it right from the start. Most people are alert when something or someone disturbs the peace, even if it is a rumor, gossip or indeed a tangible fact. In the olden times, when a person comes and challenges a king's or queen's right to rule, it spells disaster and chaos. Aren't we all familiar with the War of the Roses? Aren't we all familiar with Mary Stuart's claim to the English throne during Elizabeth the First's rule? Surely Herod was more than disturbed when magi came looking for a newborn king of the Jews - a rightful heir to the throne - considering that he (Herod) doesn't have royal blood or any little legitimate claim to the throne of Israel save for his marriage to Mariamne. What to do then with the baby? But what's saddening the most is the seemingly oblivious state of the chief priests and teachers of the Law. Surely they wondered who these magi are. "They came looking for a newborn king of the Jews?" "A star led them here?" "Can we not join them to see this newborn infant king of the Jews?" If they have been waiting for the Messiah, why then did they not express enthusiasm for the Messiah's birth or a little bit of joy or a little curiosity as to what the whole affair was all about? Why did they not follow the magi?

The Gospel's invitation for us is to look upon ourselves and ask how ready are we to respond to the invitation of God. Do we delay? Do we respond immediately? Are we oblivious to it?

Image courtesy: artist