WEBVTT 00:00:00.620 --> 00:00:03.120 The reading is taken from Matthew chapter 2. 00:00:04.600 --> 00:00:10.300 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Magi, 00:00:11.279 --> 00:00:13.700 Herod from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, 00:00:14.700 --> 00:00:17.900 Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews? 00:00:18.760 --> 00:00:23.240 We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him. 00:00:24.780 --> 00:00:27.900 When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, 00:00:27.899 --> 00:00:30.320 and all Jerusalem with him. 00:00:31.479 --> 00:00:36.519 When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, 00:00:36.979 --> 00:00:40.820 he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 00:00:41.920 --> 00:00:44.239 In Bethlehem in Judea, they all replied, 00:00:45.039 --> 00:00:47.299 for this is what the prophet has written. 00:00:48.480 --> 00:00:51.700 But you in Bethlehem, in the land of Judea, 00:00:52.000 --> 00:00:55.599 are by no means least amongst the rulers of Judah. 00:00:55.600 --> 00:01:03.020 For out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel. 00:01:05.219 --> 00:01:12.799 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 00:01:12.799 --> 00:01:16.579 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, 00:01:17.079 --> 00:01:20.379 Go and search carefully for the child. 00:01:21.379 --> 00:01:23.179 And as soon as you find him, 00:01:24.039 --> 00:01:25.079 report to me, 00:01:25.620 --> 00:01:28.959 so that I too may go and worship him. 00:01:28.959 --> 00:01:34.359 What do we make of Herod? 00:01:36.099 --> 00:01:39.679 What words or words would you use to describe him? 00:01:40.199 --> 00:01:42.719 This is where you get the chance to speak. 00:01:44.239 --> 00:01:48.519 Just shout out those words that you think you would like to describe Herod with. 00:01:49.239 --> 00:01:50.339 Worried and fearful. 00:01:50.579 --> 00:01:51.739 Worried and we fearful. 00:01:53.359 --> 00:01:53.659 Anybody? 00:01:54.659 --> 00:01:55.019 Wicked. 00:01:55.519 --> 00:01:55.959 Weak. 00:01:55.959 --> 00:01:56.439 Weak. 00:01:56.759 --> 00:01:57.779 Ah, weak. 00:01:58.179 --> 00:01:58.699 Weasel. 00:01:59.059 --> 00:01:59.619 Weasel. 00:01:59.699 --> 00:02:01.299 Ooh, we've got lots of Ws. 00:02:02.719 --> 00:02:03.579 Are we good? 00:02:04.219 --> 00:02:04.819 Embricitous. 00:02:05.359 --> 00:02:05.899 Ooh. 00:02:06.339 --> 00:02:08.099 I don't know what it means, but it's exciting. 00:02:08.199 --> 00:02:09.299 It sounds good. 00:02:10.299 --> 00:02:12.219 That's where you put the preacher on their metal. 00:02:13.799 --> 00:02:14.280 Cunning. 00:02:14.759 --> 00:02:15.280 Cunning. 00:02:17.000 --> 00:02:17.919 Any else? 00:02:19.539 --> 00:02:20.099 Crafty. 00:02:20.099 --> 00:02:20.139 Crafty. 00:02:20.139 --> 00:02:23.139 I like the alliteration here. 00:02:23.299 --> 00:02:25.159 We're getting, you know, we seem to go in a little bit of a pattern. 00:02:25.919 --> 00:02:29.159 King Herod was a bit of a tyrant, wasn't he? 00:02:29.500 --> 00:02:34.179 And thought nothing of killing one of his wives, three of his sons, 300 court officials, 00:02:34.299 --> 00:02:36.239 the slaughter of notable men of Jericho, 00:02:36.439 --> 00:02:38.739 so that there would be weeping and wailing at his funeral. 00:02:38.819 --> 00:02:39.899 That's sometime in the future. 00:02:40.419 --> 00:02:42.219 He was not a nice man. 00:02:42.219 --> 00:02:50.960 He was paranoid about power and reacted aggressively to any perceived threat to that power. 00:02:52.379 --> 00:02:56.780 Irascible is a word that comes to mind to describe infamy. 00:02:58.039 --> 00:03:03.939 But what he didn't realise was that he really had no power at all, 00:03:04.319 --> 00:03:08.300 or at best, a tenuous, fragile power. 00:03:08.300 --> 00:03:14.020 King Herod, we heard, was disturbed, and when he heard about the travelling magi, 00:03:14.120 --> 00:03:18.219 that this new baby had been born, who was going to be the king of the Jews. 00:03:18.520 --> 00:03:23.980 Other translations variously used, very disturbed, very upset, troubled, terrified, frightened. 00:03:24.900 --> 00:03:26.620 I think we get the message. 00:03:27.840 --> 00:03:30.180 Herod was the king of the Jews, was he not? 00:03:30.680 --> 00:03:32.140 So why was he so bothered? 00:03:33.000 --> 00:03:35.660 Well, he wasn't exactly the king of the Jews. 00:03:35.659 --> 00:03:39.560 You see, Herod's title, the king of the Jews, was given to him by the Romans. 00:03:40.199 --> 00:03:45.979 He was previously a governor and had made himself useful to Rome in the civil wars of Palestine. 00:03:46.120 --> 00:03:50.500 He was called Herod the Great and deserved the title in many ways. 00:03:50.599 --> 00:03:51.859 He was a great builder. 00:03:52.039 --> 00:03:55.400 He was instrumental in the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. 00:03:56.000 --> 00:03:58.099 He could be generous, believe it or not. 00:03:58.500 --> 00:04:03.379 In times of difficulty, he remitted the taxes to make things easier for the people. 00:04:03.379 --> 00:04:10.259 But despite all his good works, he was not really out to please anyone but himself. 00:04:11.439 --> 00:04:14.620 He'd been king for a long time, but still he felt threatened, 00:04:15.099 --> 00:04:21.319 and as we heard, lashed out to protect his position, his status at all costs. 00:04:21.319 --> 00:04:30.459 We might look around at figures in the world today like Mr. Putin being an obvious candidate 00:04:30.459 --> 00:04:33.360 and see something of Herod in them. 00:04:34.219 --> 00:04:40.959 But I would suggest that before we get too excited, I wonder if we might not examine ourselves. 00:04:40.959 --> 00:04:48.479 If we think about it, each of us exercises some power or authority in our own lives, 00:04:48.560 --> 00:04:51.539 however small or insignificant that might be. 00:04:52.639 --> 00:04:58.299 It's worth considering just where that is and how we exercise it. 00:04:59.799 --> 00:05:04.319 What would pose a threat to the little power we have? 00:05:04.319 --> 00:05:10.379 What does Herod's fear say to us and the powerful in the world today? 00:05:12.240 --> 00:05:19.639 It struck me as I pondered over this reading that no angel appeared to Herod saying, 00:05:20.000 --> 00:05:21.000 do not be afraid. 00:05:22.240 --> 00:05:26.600 Like the angel Gabriel had visited Mary or the angel of the Lord appearing to Joseph 00:05:26.600 --> 00:05:30.079 or the angel of the Lord who appeared to the shepherds. 00:05:30.740 --> 00:05:32.060 Do not be afraid. 00:05:32.060 --> 00:05:37.980 I bring you good news that will bring great joy for all the world, all the people. 00:05:39.220 --> 00:05:40.939 But Herod didn't see it like that. 00:05:41.180 --> 00:05:42.180 He hadn't heard it. 00:05:42.519 --> 00:05:46.899 Probably because he was a bit half-hearted in his faith of God. 00:05:48.540 --> 00:05:54.600 He was half-Jew and he was seeking to please himself as we heard. 00:05:55.199 --> 00:05:59.319 He didn't or wouldn't open his heart and mind to the real king. 00:05:59.319 --> 00:06:03.459 And as a result, he lived in fear. 00:06:04.939 --> 00:06:09.680 His instruction to the Magi to come back and tell him when they'd found the baby 00:06:09.680 --> 00:06:14.540 so that he could go and worship them was really not what he was going to do at all. 00:06:14.540 --> 00:06:23.819 And perhaps the question begged of us is, is our desire to worship Jesus, the baby, the man, 00:06:24.140 --> 00:06:30.340 the saviour of the world, with an open heart and an open mind? 00:06:30.339 --> 00:06:42.659 Just as we heard at the beginning, the little boy who went to adore Jesus was something Herod would never do. 00:06:42.660 --> 00:06:54.840 But we know that with the love of God, there is no fear in love, for perfect love casts out fear. 00:06:56.360 --> 00:07:03.280 Would we not pray that for those who are in power today, that they would know God's love, 00:07:03.279 --> 00:07:08.539 that the fear that drives them may be dispelled? 00:07:16.039 --> 00:07:19.479 After they had heard the king, they went on their way. 00:07:20.559 --> 00:07:24.619 And the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them, 00:07:25.579 --> 00:07:29.479 until it stopped over the place where the child was. 00:07:29.480 --> 00:07:33.819 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 00:07:34.800 --> 00:07:40.200 And on coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, 00:07:40.879 --> 00:07:43.280 and they bowed down and worshipped him. 00:07:44.560 --> 00:07:50.520 Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 00:07:51.840 --> 00:07:55.560 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, 00:07:55.560 --> 00:07:59.939 they returned to their country by another route. 00:08:03.879 --> 00:08:07.680 So the Magi, they set out to follow a star. 00:08:09.060 --> 00:08:11.519 God is found in the moments of wonder 00:08:11.519 --> 00:08:15.319 that make us stop and ponder the mystery. 00:08:15.319 --> 00:08:20.759 So what have been your own awakening moments of wonder 00:08:20.759 --> 00:08:23.759 that have led you deeper into mystery? 00:08:27.600 --> 00:08:30.899 The star's light was seen in the darkness. 00:08:32.039 --> 00:08:37.419 In their darker moments, they trusted that the light was still to be found. 00:08:37.419 --> 00:08:41.579 How have you experienced the dark? 00:08:42.699 --> 00:08:46.439 Where or how did you recognize the light? 00:08:53.039 --> 00:08:56.039 They asked questions when they were lost. 00:08:57.299 --> 00:09:02.299 Continuing to try to make sense of where they were and where they were being led, 00:09:03.159 --> 00:09:04.199 they looked for help. 00:09:04.200 --> 00:09:07.680 What are the questions you live with? 00:09:09.280 --> 00:09:11.320 Who are wisdom figures for you? 00:09:12.560 --> 00:09:14.660 Who has helped you with your questions? 00:09:20.100 --> 00:09:21.520 They traveled together. 00:09:22.740 --> 00:09:24.480 We don't know how many of them, 00:09:24.980 --> 00:09:27.680 but we can imagine the little community that they became 00:09:27.680 --> 00:09:30.940 as they traveled together sharing this experience. 00:09:30.940 --> 00:09:34.940 Where do you experience community? 00:09:36.940 --> 00:09:39.360 And what does this add to your journeying? 00:09:43.440 --> 00:09:45.640 They met Herod on the way. 00:09:46.900 --> 00:09:49.220 For his own reasons of power and control, 00:09:49.420 --> 00:09:50.600 he tried to deceive them. 00:09:51.880 --> 00:09:55.580 We need to recognize the twisted value systems of our own world 00:09:55.580 --> 00:09:59.139 and not get caught up in them or be misled by them. 00:10:01.379 --> 00:10:04.600 So what ways are you most often pulled off course? 00:10:09.660 --> 00:10:11.560 They bowed down in adoration. 00:10:13.160 --> 00:10:15.740 Falling on their knees, they worshipped the king. 00:10:15.740 --> 00:10:20.680 A moment beyond intellectual understanding and of recognition. 00:10:21.919 --> 00:10:25.279 We can imagine that moment of knowing in the deep silence. 00:10:26.919 --> 00:10:29.620 Do you cultivate silence in your life 00:10:29.620 --> 00:10:32.560 so that there can be moments of knowing and of recognition? 00:10:32.559 --> 00:10:38.839 They offered their gifts. 00:10:40.079 --> 00:10:42.719 To be in the presence demanded a response, 00:10:43.199 --> 00:10:45.459 an offering of themselves and of their gifts. 00:10:47.159 --> 00:10:49.159 So think about your own gifts. 00:10:50.359 --> 00:10:52.099 What are you offering of yourself, 00:10:52.859 --> 00:10:54.799 your time and your material possessions? 00:10:54.799 --> 00:11:01.579 In a dream, they were shown the truth. 00:11:02.500 --> 00:11:03.500 Because of the danger, 00:11:03.599 --> 00:11:05.879 they were warned to return by a different way. 00:11:07.799 --> 00:11:10.179 Revelation can come to us through our dreams. 00:11:11.399 --> 00:11:13.120 Have you ever experienced this? 00:11:13.979 --> 00:11:18.279 And how else do you experience God's revealing of the way to you? 00:11:18.279 --> 00:11:28.019 In a moment, we're going to have some music to reflect and pray through. 00:11:28.699 --> 00:11:31.419 And there may be these questions that you might want to think about 00:11:31.419 --> 00:11:32.740 as the music is playing. 00:11:35.259 --> 00:11:38.620 So name and give thanks for a moment of wonder. 00:11:41.500 --> 00:11:44.919 Resolve to offer your gift this year in a particular way. 00:11:44.919 --> 00:11:51.939 Name some aspect of darkness and pray for light to enter it. 00:11:53.659 --> 00:11:56.539 And name a companion on the journey 00:11:56.539 --> 00:11:59.559 and give thanks for their support. 00:12:04.059 --> 00:12:06.059 And just thinking about our gifts, 00:12:07.679 --> 00:12:09.699 however lowly we think we are, 00:12:10.439 --> 00:12:13.500 however we think we may not have any gifts, 00:12:13.500 --> 00:12:15.340 we have all got something to bring. 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:17.980 And in the song, I just love this little, 00:12:18.179 --> 00:12:19.620 this verse that it says here. 00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:21.820 Here in the dusty ground, 00:12:22.419 --> 00:12:23.960 I bow with kings, 00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:28.620 where wise men then laid before their offerings. 00:12:29.879 --> 00:12:33.259 I lay no golden crown here at your feet, 00:12:34.360 --> 00:12:36.500 but just this, my broken life, 00:12:37.399 --> 00:12:38.159 I offer thee. 00:12:38.159 --> 00:12:38.320 Amen.