LAKEWOOD/TRINITY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
2601 54th Avenue South St. Petersburg, FL 33712
On land originally inhabited by the Tocabaga
727-867-7961
lakewooducc.org
lakewooducc@gmail.com
Date: January 5, 2025 Epiphany!
Scripture Lesson:Matthew 2:1-12
Sermon: Another Way
Pastor: Rev. Kim P. Wells
This morning we heard about astrologers from the east, maybe Persia, following a star to the province of Judea. They are looking for a king. A newborn king. So, they consult the current king about the whereabouts of the newborn king. Sounds reasonable. Unless the king is Herod, or another monarch or authoritarian ruler, who is power hungry and corrupt.
The magi consulted Herod son of Antipater, procurator of Judea under Julius Caesar. King under Augustus Caesar. Also known as Herod the Great. He ruled from 37 BCE to 4 BCE. We don’t want to confuse him with Herod Antipas, his son, tetrarch of Galilee and Peraea, who was involved with the beheading of John the Baptizer and the conviction of Jesus leading to the crucifixion. No, the gospel of Matthew starts with Herod the Great. And he was great. Great at being a menace. A threatening, violent, insecure terror. Everyone was deathly afraid of him. He was great at building projects including rebuilding the Second Temple in Jerusalem at twice its original size and building 5 fortresses for refuge for himself and his family. He had a great secret police and a personal guard of 2000 soldiers. He was great at extorting money from his poor subjects, his own Jewish people, whom he impoverished with his building projects. He was great in that he had 3 of his sons killed. And he may be considered great in that he was eventually executed by members of his own family including his wife. Oh he was great in many ways, but he was not good. In the story we heard today, when those astrologers appear at Herod’s court and he consults his advisors, you can bet those advisors are quaking in their boots. They had to say just the right thing or they would be done for, and maybe the astrologers, too. This was rule by intimidation, fear, and violence.
In the aftermath of the magi’s visit to Herod, we are told the story of the slaughter of the innocents. The babies in the vicinity of Bethlehem are killed to prevent the encroachment of this newborn king upon Herod’s power. Herod is going to nip that in the bud. This leads to the flight of the holy family to Egypt for safety. Some of these stories are reminiscent of the stories of Moses. This is because the writer of the gospel of Matthew wants to portray Jesus as a prophet in the line of Moses only greater.
Herod represents the ways of the world. Wielding power by fear and force. Imposing rule by threat and intimidation. We still see this today in many countries, including, sometimes, our own.
We are coming upon the anniversary of the January 6 insurrection which was an attempt to thwart the workings of the US Congress. This mob attack was right in keeping with initiatives throughout the ages to unseat those who are in power and to impose new rulers. This happens again and again in history. People seek to impose their way on others through violence, intimidation, and fear. It can be a one on one situation or a societal power play.
Now, let’s notice something about the story we heard today. The astrologers visit Jerusalem. Doubtless in the camel barn or at the inn or in a cafe, they were told about Herod. His evil violent nature. His lust for power. His oppression of the populace as well as his advisors and minions. So these astrologers have been warned about Herod. They know he is a bad guy.
So, do the astrologers foment a rebellion against Herod? Do they pull together a militia to take Herod down? Do they return to their countries and amass an army to come to the defense of the Judeans being extorted and intimidated by Herod. No.
We are told that after their encounter with Herod and then Jesus and the Holy Family, they go home another way. By another route. To encounter Jesus is to be changed. To be redirected. To be rewired. Re-oriented. They are no longer the same. While they may have had the inclination to confront the violence of Herod with further violence, this is no longer the case after their encounter with Jesus. This newborn king inspires peace on earth, goodwill to all. Transformation and change, liberation and justice are on the horizon, but they will not come to fruition through more violence and death. It will have to happen another way.
As we head into this New Year, there are many challenges that will confront us. Some of us are scared. Some feel betrayed. Some feel threatened. Some of us are numb from all the trauma.
The message of Christmas is that there is another way. Love and peace can prevail. Through commitment and creativity, new methods and strategies and tactics can emerge to alter reality. The story of the magi tells us that there is another way. We can encounter the Christ and be changed. We do not have to keep losing the same losing game. We, too, can go home another way. Amen.
A reasonable effort has been made to appropriately cite materials referenced in this sermon. For additional information, please contact Lakewood United Church of Christ.
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