It had never occurred to me before, but it made sense. A friend pointed out that one of the first people mentioned in the Christmas story is Herod.
Everyone in the family has had a meltdown this week, over problems no bigger than a broken extension cord. Not third world problems like crossing the Mediterranean in a raft. First world problems. Make that half world problems.
The expectations of how the holidays will play out make us vulnerable. We tie our hopes to festive lights, but get tripped by the tangled strings around our ankles. We count on packages arriving on time, but the line at the post office is a nuisance. We set our eyes on a plate full of ginger snaps, but the sink full of dishes is an obstacle.
When I am ankle deep in the irritations of an ordinary routine augmented by holiday expectations, I react. Badly. Yet when I climb up even as high as the second floor of my mind I see it for what it is. Herod.
In the story I can look beneath the oily comments.
"When you find the young Child, bring me word, so that I may come and worship Him also."
Right. This was the same Herod that ordered hundreds of baby boys killed for no reason other than their age. But he wants to pay his respects?
Believing that a gnarly cord is grounds for anger is as naive as falling for the ruse of a tyrannical monarch. But I can be wise. I can go a different road home. The star will show us the way.
Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”
When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had
opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. Matthew 2
