Dear Parishioners,
King Herod is one of the key players in our Gospel account this Sunday, so allow me to give a little history of him.
When I preach about Israelite history, I typically focus on either Moses in the desert with the Israelites (about 1500BC) or King David up until the Babylonian conquest of Israel (about 1000-500BC). But there’s another interesting period around 140BC, when the Israelites make a comeback with the Hasmonean dynasty. These are descendants from the Maccabees. They reconquer the land and expel foreign leaders, and begin rebuilding Jerusalem to its glory days. Well, the Hasmonean dynasty ends in 37BC when the Romans invade and kill the last Hosmonean king. Interestingly, the Romans don’t set up a governor (that will come later), but allow a Jewish king, a man who is strong and smart and comes from the Edomites (a land in the south that the Hasmonians had conquered, which was half-Jewish and half-Gentile). His mother is an Arabian princess. This man is Herod the Great, the Herod who is king at the time of Christ’s birth.
He’s called “The Great” because he’s as close to the Messiah as the Jews pictured. The Messiah to them is going to be this strong leader who is going to expel the foreigner leaders, make the Temple glorious, and practice the faith with integrity. Herod does all this. The Romans are gone, he rebuilds the Temple--making it bigger and more glorious actually than the original temple--and Herod is a strict observer of the law. He even fulfills those prophecies that the Messiah will also gather the nations and be among the Gentiles. So, with Herod, it appeared that the Israelites’ hopes were coming to an end. Their long-awaited Messiah had finally arrived.
The only problem was that Herod was a psycho. His mother Cypros was not a queenly, virtuous woman. She was envious and greedy, and actually convinced Herod to kill his own wife, Mariamne, out of jealousy. Herod would then kill his three sons out of paranoia. It was like King Saul all over again. Herod ended up being a vassal of the Romans, the practices of the temple and his strict observance of religion was hollow and Pharisaical, and Israel became as divided as ever.
It’s at this time, when the expectancy of the Messiah is at its height, that Jesus Christ was born--the real Messiah. Herod is even aware of this, which is why he tried to hunt down the Christ child and ended up killing all the babies in Bethlehem. It’s like God wanted to put an end to the Israelites’ quest and save them one last pain of putting their hopes in a false Messiah in King Herod the Great.
Look at the differences between Jesus and Herod. He’s not born to wealth. His mother Mary isn’t an Arabian princess, but a peasant girl from Nazareth, and she’s not overcome with jealousy and intrigue, but is immaculate. She runs to Elizabeth to tell the good news her child is the one, the Son of God. People trembled with Herod, for they knew he was a madman and interested only in himself. John the Baptist, and soon others, will leap for joy with Jesus, for he came to save his people. And the wise men from the east won’t flee from Jesus like they fled from Herod, but will adore him and give him gifts.
Jesus saves. He saves us. If we can adore him, we will be saved.
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Once again, happy new year to all of you. I hope you had a nice holiday break. College students, safe travels back to school. High schoolers, good luck with the new semester. Our SPC School returns on Tuesday. Welcome back, students, parents, and teachers.
At the 4:30pm Mass next Saturday, January 11th, our CRUX teens will be serving the Mass, acting as lectors and EMs. One of our teens will give a reflection after communion. The teens will then gather afterwards in the Holy Family Chapel for a meeting and some pizza.
I am pleased to introduce Mr. Michael Einarsen as our new Director of Operations. Mike is a faith-filled man who has owned his own business and also served the Church in a variety of ways in the past. He is eager to serve the mission here at St. Paul of the Cross. Welcome aboard, Mike, and blessings to you.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. James Wallace
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