Thoughts for the Day

Luke 2:6-7 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

All is set.  All is in place.  By force of circumstances – so it seems – Mary and Joseph are in Bethlehem, and Jesus will be born here.  Symbolically, the everlasting king will be born in the birthplace of David, the place of his anointing as king, and in accordance with the scriptures.  At some time (unclear) an unspecified number of Magi will arrive from the East and enquire of Herod where this new king has been born.  They will be sent to Bethlehem with instructions to return and tell Herod exactly where.  To set this in perspective, I discover that Herod had at least two palaces, one in Jerusalem – I’m guessing that is where he met the Magi – and another about 10 miles south, the site of which is now the Herodion National Park.  Bethlehem lies between the two, only 3 miles from the latter which is clearly visible from Bethlehem because of its dominating “volcano like” appearance (it sits on a hill partly man-made under Herod’s instructions).  I picture the contrast. From the splendour of his palace on his personally-elevated hill, Herod looks out over the city of Bethlehem, his eyes fixed on the star in the sky, the heavenly portent of a greater king; troubled and threatened, he asks himself, “How can I stop this?”  Joseph and Mary in their simple surroundings shift their gaze between this imposing skyline and the baby in the manager; they recall Gabriel’s declaration that God will give him the throne of his father David, and simply wonder “How will this be?”