Home by Another Way
How the Astrologers in Matthew's Gospel Remind Me to Reject Power for Integrity
The story goes that two thousand some odd years ago, a group of astrologers followed a rising star in the sky until they came upon the humble home of a teenage girl named Mary, her carpenter husband, Joseph, and their firstborn son, Jesus. These astrologers- or magi or wise men or kings- found the child they were looking for: King of the Jews. Overwhelmed with joy, they knelt and paid him honor, offering gold to a King, frankincense to a God, and myrrh to one who would be buried.
Today is Epiphany, the last day of Christmas, when we celebrate their visit to Jesus.
There is a sincerity to these astrologers that keeps tugging at me this weekend, particularly in their interaction with Herod. They traveled to Jerusalem and asked Herod, a notoriously insecure and maniacal political leader, for help finding “the child who has been born king of the Jews.” This “good news” terrified him, like heaped coals on a bald head. If the Jews united under a so-called king and wreaked havoc, he would lose power and Rome would replace him with someone else.
Herod told the astrologers to keep searching for this child, and if they found him, send word back to Jerusalem so that he, too, might “come worship” the King of the Jews.
Some things never change.
Herod’s operating system was politics, power, and violence. He attempted to exploit a sincere group of seekers by pretending they shared a common goal of worshiping Jesus, all to serve his true aim: preserving his own power. This pattern has continued throughout history, where the common goal of “worshiping Jesus” is coopted by people in power to manipulate Christians into their own agendas. But these wise astrologers, more concerned with the heavens than politics, did not send word back to Jerusalem. Being warned in a dream, they disobeyed Herod and went home a different way.
I think about this a lot- the purity of their choice to protect Jesus. They did not have a dog in the fight. This was not their land. Jesus was not the King of their people or religion. They wouldn’t see Jesus again. They may have benefitted from having a friend in Herod. But they had integrity instead; and Jesus was spared.
I thank God for this story preserved in our sacred text. It reminds me that sometimes, integrity means standing in opposition to the most powerful person in the room. Even when that person knows how to speak “my language.” Even when I don’t have a dog in the fight. Even when I could benefit from throwing someone else under the bus.
Today, the wise astrologers remind me that worship is not about finding power but finding Jesus… and sometimes, the most faithful road is the one that travels home by another way.
Sending love as you settle into 2025,
Savannah