The Rev. Nancy E. Gossling
“Give the King your justice, O God, *and your righteousness to the King's Son” (Psalm 72:1)
“When King Herod heard this, he was frightened.” (Matthew 2:3)
“I couldn’t help feeling a bit smug when, in
preparation for this column, I meditated on Herod’s fright over news of a
birth. Because (I reasoned) why on earth would a figure with this much power be
so very undone by a report from some wandering astrologers that the king of the
Jews had been born unless on some level Herod knew that the unadulterated
goodness and love embodied by this child would mark the end of reigns such as
his own?”
“Do not (I went on to ask myself) all those who wield power abusively carry in their bones the fearful understanding that it is not worldly might that will ultimately overtake them, but that which seems, at first glance, vulnerable and weak? And isn’t this (I concluded triumphantly) what Jesus is all about?”
“Well, no. There are two problems with my line of
thinking. First, an argument proceeding from smug triumphalism is already
rotten at its core. Second, I don’t think it is primarily fear that Herod
feels. Yes, the NRSVue uses the word frightened to describe Herod’s state, but
other major translations go with disturbed (NIV) or troubled (KJV,
NASB)—choices that make sense because the Greek verbal root used here denotes
emotional or physical agitation.” (Mindy
Misener , a former teacher of college writing, is a student at Yale Divinity
School. Christian Century, January 2026)
I don’t know. What makes rulers want to hold onto
their power at all costs? What makes rulers afraid, troubled, and disturbed?
And are we splitting hairs between the three descriptive words?
Now King Herod has often been described as the
archetype of a bad king, and “the rule of kings demands the necessity of a
constant check against the arrogance of such individual power.” (ibid.) “No kings,” some protesters in the United States cry in response to our
own president’s actions; but that also begs some other questions: Is he really
a king? What exactly constitutes a king’s authority? And are all kings bad?
While our country was founded on a violent revolt
against this kind of rule, there are kings throughout the world who also appear
to be “good.” Nicolas Maduro, recently arrested and indicted for
narco-terrorism and being a “president of questionable authority" was
considered a “bad king.” What makes for a bad king? Or ruler? Or president? Or
any kind of leader?
Venezuela had most recently been ruled by two
presidents (Chavez and Maduro) who had promised their people equality and
prosperity. In over twenty five years they had systematically reduced their 3rd
most prosperous nation to one of the poorest. Benefiting only themselves with
their individual power and a cabal of willing servants, they amassed riches for
themselves…. from the drug cartels they enabled and supported. They seemed to
have no concern for the thousands, indeed millions, of people who suffered or
died from these drugs. No wonder Maduro was wanted for trials around the world.
Silently, publicly, peacefully, and violently people
will protest when they feel powerless. The people in Venezuela protested for
years, but to no avail. More often than not they were imprisoned or murdered.
From the streets in Iran to the streets in Minneapolis, from Venezuela to
Oregon people are protesting and people are dying. In reality, the dignities of
human beings on both sides of the picket lines are violated. Shame on all of us
when we disrespect anyone’s dignity, arrestees and arrestors alike. Chaos and
darkness reign in times like these.
Yes, thoughts
of losing one’s power can be frightening, troubling, and disturbing! Who among
us wants to be powerless? Unless, as people in twelve step communities will
claim, recognizing their powerlessness over substances that can kill them and
people who may harm is a good first step. Was this what God had in God’s mind
and heart when God became human flesh in the person of Jesus?
I’m not a lawyer and quite frankly I find legal
arguments to be exhausting. Mental games confuse me. Give me time and space to
talk about spiritual and psychological reasoning and I’m happy to indulge.
Which brings me back to the celebration of the Epiphany. It was a moment in
time, according to our scripture stories, when the three kings appeared at the
manger scene in Bethlehem. Supposedly, their minds and hearts were in alignment
with God’s.
Following a star, and traveling west from the east,
they did their due diligence by checking in with King Herod in Jerusalem. This
“bad king”, however, made promises that strained their credulity. “When you
find this new king, let me know so that I can worship him,” King Herod said to
the sages. Really? Herod would turn over all the power and benefits that he had
rightly and wrongly accrued over the years willingly and without protest
because he wanted to worship this new king? Instead he slaughtered innocent
children in an effort to kill Jesus.
Wise people pay attention to not only the consequences
of their physical, legal, and mental
behaviors but also to the psychological and spiritual messages that are
conveyed. Warned in a dream not to return to Jerusalem, the three kings decided
not to re-visit King Herod, but took another route home. The journey back east
may have taken them longer but they believed that such a “course
correction" was a faithful response to a divine message. Similarly, Mary
and Joseph headed south to Egypt rather than returning home. Is it time for
some people’s course corrections?
Apparently the people of Venezuela, who had fled their
own country, were dancing in the streets of Miami when they heard of Maduro’s
arrest. One man described the journey as one in which he could see the light at
the end of the tunnel. It will take years for the reparation and restoration of
his beloved homeland, he claimed, but at least now there was hope.
No one will deny that darkness and chaos has covered
their land and their people for years. But, as they say, it is only in the dark
of night that one can see the true star gleaming. This true star guides our
ways forward while remaining out of the reach of human hands that seek their
own power. This north star has a moral compass that does not waver. It points
to the promise and power of God that rules over all creation, preserves the
dignity of all God’s beloved children, even while sacrificing its own vulnerability.
Ruling with both justice and mercy, this king of kings, lord of lords, stood up
to all the bad actors and evil in the world, and ultimately endured even his
own death.
I guess, triumphalism be damned, the unadulterated
goodness and love embodied by this child, and revealed by his life, death, and
resurrection can offer hope to a world teetering on the brink of chaos and
darkness. Especially when one feels powerless.
