This chapter was full of examples, both good and bad. Joseph continues to obey God at every turn, while Herod schemes and murders to get his own way. Which leads me to my answers to 2 of our questions today.
1- Is there a sin to avoid?
To put it mildly, the sin is selfishness. Herod is so intent on protecting his treasure; his money, his palace, his rule, that he is willing to kill to save it. On the other hand...
2- Is there an example to follow?
...While herod and the people of Jerusalem are afraid, a group of Magi are looking for Jesus. When they find him, instead of being afraid of what it might mean or cost them, this group of outsiders is moved to worship. How do they worship? By offering to Jesus their treasures! While one is willing to kill to keep what he values, others offer what they treasure as an act of worship.
Lord, may we not cling to the stuff of this world; stuff that makes us feel important, but has no lasting value. Instead, may we offer to you the things we treasure. May we worship our God, Father, Son and Spirit, who can give us gifts of eternal value. Amen.
I was taken back by the part that described the wailing of the people when Harod ordered the deaths of all boys under the age of two. How can a man be so heartless... and how horrible to be a mother who has her child ripped from her arms as she screams in terror... do we ever do things that in directly do this? Do we buy products that we don't really know what is done to get them to us? Who is used just to satisfy our "need" for more stuff? Do we "order" the death of someone's son by not providing help for those who are sick and can't afford help? Do we leave behind land mines long after we fight battles for things like oil in other countries - land mines that go off even today and mame or kill someone's baby, or father, or sister? We do. And should grieve it.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to hit on "Is there an error to mark?", and "Is there a challenge to face?"
ReplyDeleteI see Herod as just totally self-absorbed with his own "stuff". He can't see past what is going to make him happy and comfortable this very minute. He is a poor leader, but since he is a ruler he can pursue his wants with no thought for how it affects anyone but him.
We may not be in the same life position as Herod, and may not ever even dream of doing some of the things he did, but we can still easily be absorbed by our own stuff and ignore the hurts AND forget to celebrate the joys of those around us.
I see a challenge to me to longevity. How often I want good things to happen now...I certainly am not interested in something vague two years from now! The "wise" men were indeed wise. They had the wisdom to follow the path even when the destination was pretty far off in the future.