Matthew 2:1-12, The arrival of the Magi and lessons from King Herod

Send us Fan MailThere is a lot going on in this Gospel.  There are a few points I want to bring to your attention and hopefully useful to you for reflection.Matthew 2:1-12 tells the story of the arrival of the Magi  to honor the birth of the newborn king Jesus.  We don’t know very much about these individuals.     Theologically, they represent the Gentile non-Jewish world. Their presence reminds us that Jesus came for the whole world not just a select group. The Magi leave the safety of their homes and previous life to journey outside of their comfort zone to follow a star.  King Herod, on the other hand, is clearly threatened by the birth of Jesus and reacts.  Herod lashes out.  His brief mention in the Scriptures teaches us about entitled people.  The story of King Herod and his abuse of power introduces the question of how followers of Christ should exercise power.  Complete our 1 Minute Survey