Where is He Who is BORN the King of the Jews?
Matthew 2:2
This is an elaboration of the theme for the Christmas reflection of 2008 slightly different, somewhat expanded. We never get to the end of this story do we?
Even David was not born King of the Jews. Nor Saul nor Solomon. Hardly anyone is actually BORN a King. Hardly anyone at all.
Victoria was not born a Queen. She became Queen a month after her 18th birthday. When she was born George III was on the throne. Her son Edward VII was not born a King. When he was born his mother was on the throne. She was also on the throne when her grandson and great grandson George V and George VI were born. No one is born a King or Queen. You must wait. One day, when it's time, he or she ascends the throne.
Herod was a tyrant with strong views about who should be King. He believed there should be no successors on the horizon or in the imagination. His two unusually winsome sons, Alexander and Aristobolus not only made a great impression in the provinces but were justly celebrated in Rome as well. Their celebrity flamed the paranoia of a father who dispatched them with assassins. His own sons! Can you imagine entering Jerusalem to extol a fresh rival to Herod? Herod was not born a King. He was not even born a Jew. He was an Idumean. He converted to Judaism to make his reign more palatable. He kept a Kosher table. It was said that Herod's pigs were more safe than Herod's sons (a play on words in Greek).
Only faith or courage or ignorance or insanity would have moved anyone to enter Jerusalem to inquire about another King, a higher King, a King born as King. These Magi were moved by divine impulse. They sought a King attended by stars
There was only one King Who brought a Crown to His birth. There was only one Who stooped to a human throne, One Who condescended.
That King bartered power for weakness with informed consent fully apprised of consequences.
That King was born in Bethlehem.
Born on Christmas Day.
Matthew 2:2
This is an elaboration of the theme for the Christmas reflection of 2008 slightly different, somewhat expanded. We never get to the end of this story do we?
Even David was not born King of the Jews. Nor Saul nor Solomon. Hardly anyone is actually BORN a King. Hardly anyone at all.
Victoria was not born a Queen. She became Queen a month after her 18th birthday. When she was born George III was on the throne. Her son Edward VII was not born a King. When he was born his mother was on the throne. She was also on the throne when her grandson and great grandson George V and George VI were born. No one is born a King or Queen. You must wait. One day, when it's time, he or she ascends the throne.
Herod was a tyrant with strong views about who should be King. He believed there should be no successors on the horizon or in the imagination. His two unusually winsome sons, Alexander and Aristobolus not only made a great impression in the provinces but were justly celebrated in Rome as well. Their celebrity flamed the paranoia of a father who dispatched them with assassins. His own sons! Can you imagine entering Jerusalem to extol a fresh rival to Herod? Herod was not born a King. He was not even born a Jew. He was an Idumean. He converted to Judaism to make his reign more palatable. He kept a Kosher table. It was said that Herod's pigs were more safe than Herod's sons (a play on words in Greek).
Only faith or courage or ignorance or insanity would have moved anyone to enter Jerusalem to inquire about another King, a higher King, a King born as King. These Magi were moved by divine impulse. They sought a King attended by stars
There was only one King Who brought a Crown to His birth. There was only one Who stooped to a human throne, One Who condescended.
That King bartered power for weakness with informed consent fully apprised of consequences.
That King was born in Bethlehem.
Born on Christmas Day.
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