When the magi had departed, an angel from the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up. Take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod will soon search for the child in order to kill him.” Joseph got up and, during the night, took the child and his mother to Egypt. He stayed there until Herod died. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: I have called my son out of Egypt. When Herod knew the magi had fooled him, he grew very angry. He sent soldiers to kill all the children in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding territory who were two years old and younger, according to the time that he had learned from the magi. This fulfilled the word spoken through Jeremiah the prophet:
A voice was heard in Ramah,
weeping and much grieving.
Rachel weeping for her children,
and she did not want to be comforted,
because they were no more.
After King Herod died, an angel from the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. “Get up,” the angel said, “and take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel. Those who were trying to kill the child are dead.” Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus ruled over Judea in place of his father Herod, Joseph was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he went to the area of Galilee. He settled in a city called Nazareth so that what was spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled: He will be called a Nazarene. (Matthew 2:13-23, CEB)
This is a day that commemorates power and using it to keep it.
Herod knew the new king was being born because the Magi went to the palace because where else would one expect to find a king? And when Herod heard what the Magi said, he was frightened because he was going to lose his power. So he told the Magi to let him know where the child was when they found him, so he could worship him also. Actually, Herod wanted to kill Jesus so he would not take Herod’s power. This is what happens when people are out for their own gains and not using their power for the betterment of the world.
Power is given to be a help to those around us, not for personal gain.
According to this passage, boys 2 years old and younger were killed because Herod was frightened that he was going to lose his power.
What would you do to keep power?
Love like Jesus, and the world will be a better place.
aSacredRebel 