What the Epiphany Teaches Us About Political Hatred

For Christians over the world, January 6 is the feast of the Epiphany, the day upon which—in accordance with the Gospel of Matthew—three sensible males from the east visited Bethlehem and supplied presents of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Jesus and his household. The phrase epiphany itself doesn’t have something to do with gift-giving. It derives from a Greek phrase meaning manifestation or look. And the phrase used to explain the sensible males, magoi, doesn’t consult with knowledge both, however to priesthood in an historic Persian faith. Magi had been clergymen of Zoroastrianism, clerics who studied the celebs as a part of their devotional apply, which makes their pursuit of a wierd star over Bethlehem narratively wise, and their reverent curiosity in a Jewish youngster stunning.

To first century Judeans, then, magi had been clergymen of an unfamiliar faith, touring from what’s now Iran, and paying surprising respect to an unremarkable younger household in rural Judea. To be clear, there’s no sense from the bible story that the magi all of the sudden abandon their Zoroastrianism on account of this go to. Quite the opposite, we’re informed the magi return to their very own land and, presumably, to their roles as astronomers and clergymen.

The opposite vital character in Matthew’s story is King Herod, the native Judean ruler, a puppet of the Romans. Herod’s response to the magi’s go to is excessive, in all probability unhistorical, and nonetheless in line with what we all know of Herod as a merciless despot: Herod sends troopers to Bethlehem to homicide each male youngster below the age of two. He’s incensed that overseas guests would provide reverence to anyone however himself. Historically this slaughter is called the bloodbath of the Holy Innocents, nonetheless a holy day in lots of Christian calendars.

In Matthew’s story, it appears apparent that Herod is the dangerous man and the magi are good. However put your self in first century footwear: think about listening to information about overseas clergymen who arrive secretly from overseas lands, bringing their false faith and their unusual customs, on the lookout for a brand new king. True, Herod could also be in mattress with the Romans; true, he could revenue off corruption and the hardships of the poor. However not less than Herod is one among us. He’s of our nation, our faith. And if he’s prepared to do something, even sacrifice a baby or two, to take care of legislation and order on this kingdom, effectively: lengthy stay the king.

Borders and states function in a different way now than they did in historic Judea. So do ethnic and spiritual identification. I don’t imply to counsel that the biblical classes listed here are uncomplicated or simply translatable throughout time and place. However what’s indeniable is that, within the historic story, the holy is made manifest in openness to others. Hospitality is how epiphany occurs. Hostility to ethnic and spiritual outsiders, in the meantime, results in the bloodbath of 1’s harmless personal.

Christians have at all times spoken loudly in American politics, however just lately among the loudest have been brandishing larger sticks. Some American governors have begun shuttling migrants who’ve arrived at their borders to the jurisdictions of rival politicians. The purpose of this, we’re informed, isn’t cruelty however to spotlight the complexity of our disaster. Sadly, in treating actual lives and households as mere props, they cut back slightly than reveal the horrible complexity of human struggling. If the Feast of the Epiphany manifests something in modern American life, it’s that the ethno-religious nationalism so many Christians trumpet does the truth is comply with the scriptural account, however not in the best way these Christians assume. They’re extra like King Herod than the Three Kings.

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