SERMONS

Matthew 2
Rev. Angela Ying

In the time of King Herod…

We live in the time of King Herod. King Herod was also know as King of the Jews. Did you know that? King Herod was the King of the Jews. So when some outside foreigners known as the wise men seek to pay homage – not to King Herod but to a child who has been born King of the Jews – King Herod is fearful. And not just King Herod – Matthew, the writer tells us – “and all Jerusalem with King Herod.” And where/what does Jerusalem represent? The very plan of power, prestige, prosperity, and privilege.

So when King Herod and the whole Herod family is found fearful – it is no surprise all of Jerusalem – the city of power, prestige, prosperity, privilege, is fearful with him…and it is the very PEOPLE who pay …
For as the saying goes – when two elephants fight – the ground pays! Are you following … And so, what does King Herod do in his fear – why – he secretly calls a meeting of the chief priests and scribes? – religious leaders who confuse the lines of church and state. Leaders of fear who rulers meet with negotiate with, make treaties with — behind closed doors And through Matthew – we get a Wiki-leaks.

Matthew is leaking state secrets of these fearful rulers— top leaders of the religious establishment. You getting this? So we need to ask the question – what does it mean to be wise? For Matthew, to be wise is not to have all the answers. To be wise is not, as the rulers believe, to be able to give the right answer.

To be wise—as we discover in the Gospel is to be able to ask the right questions. Yes? And the question the stargazing wise men ask is this…”Where is the child who has been born King of the Jews?” The wise men do not know the answer nor can they give the answer – the wise know how to ask the question.

And a key question – a life changing question that they dare to ask is: “Where is the child—who has been born King of the Jews”? An amazing question considering in the halls of power—there already is and exists a King of the Jews – Herod.

The wise in the community ask the right questions. And it is the chief priests of the religious establishment in Jerusalem, know the answer. They not only know the answer – they give and can give the right answer. “Bethlehem” –“In Bethlehem of Judea.”

But Herod and all of Jerusalem can’t get there and they won’t go there because Bethlehem, unlike Jerusalem, is not a place of power, of prestige, of prosperity, of privilege…so they stay in Jerusalem.
They can give the right answer. They can quote the prophet Micah from scripture. They can know the answer—But, they cannot and will not go to Bethlehem to know the Messiah!

They do not go to the little town of Bethlehem, where the new King of the Jews is a shepherd, a carpenter, a child born in a manger, who will love and liberate the people! They choose to remain in Jerusalem. So we learn – we can give the right answer have “peace, and justice” on our lips—but we, don’t go to Bethlehem!

As Americans who have experienced power, prestige, prosperity and privilege in comparison to most around the global village – it is not easy to get to Bethlehem. So King Herod called for the wise men – and sends the wise men to Bethlehem while he stays in power in Jerusalem. He tells them –“when you have found the new King of the Jews – bring me word, so I can pay homage to him.” King Herod here is faking what every ruler should be doing…finding Jesus to go and pay homage. Imagine if that could happen? To find Jesus…God’s love—and pay homage.

For that to take place – King Herod and every ruler/world leader would have to learn how to worship another instead of be worshipped. To ask the right question rather than give the right answer. To love –where love casts out all fear rather than be afraid. For fear casts out love and as we experience in the world – fearful leaders are loveless leaders.

The wise leave Jerusalem, go to Bethlehem, see the child who is born King of the Jews, pay homage by their overwhelming joy, and give of their own resources to share with the other.

AND get this-The wise have to find their way home – by another way.

They do not return to King Herod. They are warned not to return to Jerusalem. Which tells us something important – To keep Jesus and what Jesus has faith in alive – to keep love alive where love casts out all fear — the wise will need to engage in civil disobedience, as to give way for more life in the world not more death. You can bet that having disobeyed Herod – having shared what was going on in Jerusalem and what they saw in Bethlehem – the wise Magis become on the “wanted” list – “wanted” people.

For the powers would want them extradited! Jesus and Jesus’ love is always under thereat when people in power are afraid and fearful. So the question, on this holy night when we gather is can we see God and God’s hidden hand move us as a community, a people, a nation, and perhaps as a global village from our Jerusalems – a place of power, prestige, prosperity, privilege to God’s Bethlehem?

Places we can find God’s love in Jesus – no matter how simple, strange, self-sacrificing and full of saving grace, beginning with each one of us in our own lives having no fear. Through his life, death and resurrection, Jesus shows us “Be not afraid” – “Have no fear.” “Only love casts out all fear.”

For as a dear friend from South Africa asked the question, “what would you do if your had no fear?” And so I ask you tonight—“What would we do if we had no fear?”

You and I only get this one life – let it be, from this night on — A life of love –God’s love, where love casts out all fear. We see everyday manifestations of what fear does – and what fearful and loveless leaders do. The price for us to remain in Jerusalem as a people is death. And if I die – I want to die for life – not die for more death. May you see God’s hand working below the surface to redeem all the people in the world through love that casts out all fear.

O holy child of Bethlehem descend to us we pray. Cast out our fear and enter in, be born in us…TODAY!