The Epiphany of the Lord

 Lectionary: 20

King Herod sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.”

There is ominous irony in King Herod's command of the magi. If his advice to go to Bethlehem was received with delight, his suggestion that he too would "go and do him homage" sounded wrong. Very wrong. Since the moment they entered Jerusalem, they'd sensed only trouble as they asked about "the newborn king of the Jews." In fact, as the Gospel says, all Jerusalem was greatly troubled by their question. 

If Joseph was delighted by the unexpected arrival of these strangers, he was alarmed by what they said about Herod and Jerusalem. A quiet man who kept deep thoughts and dangerous opinions to himself, he could not rest easy with their story. Nor did they, for that matter. Completing their visit, they skirted Jerusalem and returned quietly to their homelands. They'd seen enough of Jerusalem and its king. They wanted no part of his homage.

The world has its own way of paying homage to the Lord of Heaven and Earth. The Nazis demonstrated it well. Long after many Europeans had abandoned all religious practice the Nazis set out to liquidate the Jews entirely. Although many Jews did not practice the religion of their ancestors and spoke neither Yiddish nor Hebrew, the Nazis arrested, deported, and murdered men, women, children, infants, the aged, and the disabled.  

The Nazis hated Jews not for their rumored wealth and not because they worshiped God differently but because they are God's chosen people. Herod hated the Infant for the same reason. 

Long before Jesus was born, the psalmist understood the origin of hate: 

God, do not be silent;
God, do not be deaf or remain unmoved!
See how your enemies rage;
your foes proudly raise their heads.
They conspire against your people,
plot against those you protect.
They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation;
let Israel’s name be remembered no more!”
They scheme with one mind,
they have entered into a covenant against you. Psalm 83

The Book of Revelation also speaks of the world's hatred for God's people. When the dragon and its angels had been thrown out of heaven and cast down to earth, it... 

became angry with the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring, those who keep God’s commandments and bear witness to Jesus (Rev 12:17)

When Pope Benedict died, I read a few articles about him in the Washington Post, and then scanned the Letters to the Editor and thought, "See how the nations rage!" The wild irrationality of their invective against him, inspired by fanciful conspiracies, enraged by intentional misunderstandings, and gravely offended by his inability to see what no one saw  -- comes from a  dark, dangerous place in the human heart. It had nothing to do with Pope Benedict XVI, the Church, or Catholicism and everything to do with God. 

The Church can reasonably answer their accusations. We can respond to their just complaints. People of penance, we can admit our sins and attempt to make reparation for them. And then we pray for our enemies because they are the enemies of God. 

The martyrs know that, which is why they can approach their tormentors with equanimity. No matter what the Nazis, racists, or pro-abortionists say, their hatred is never personal.  It's about God. 

A bald-pated king 
surrenders his crown.

As we enter this new year with its threats and promises, we keep our eyes fixed on the Lord. The world will do what it must do. Its violence will continue unabated. Millions of lives will be destroyed by war, abortion, and hatred. 

And like the Magi, we will worship the Lord cradled in the arms of Mary.