THE WORD THIS WEEKEND

This weekend at Catholic mass, you will hear the familiar story of The Three Kings - the visitation of the Magi as told by Matthew.  Today I have a question.   The "question" is "who believed?"

The shepherds believed!  They were witness to the splendor and words of angels.  They may have been Jews.  They tried to spread the word but - who would believe a shepherd?

The three magi believed!  They traveled a long way to see and honor him.  They were leaders;  part of the upper class or priests, from far off Persia (the area we now know as Iran and surrounding.)  These were and are a tribal people and definitely not Jews.   The words of the ancient prophets had reached them.

King Herod believed that it might be the Christ.  He sent his men to kill every boy under the age of two in the whole region. He was a Roman gentile (non-Jew).

That's about it.  The Jewish leaders; scribes and rabbis, knew He was to come but either didn't hear about Him or refused to believe He was the one.  Maybe they didn't want to give up the power they had.   Even though they preached the prophecy of Isaiah regularly in the temple, the Jews, for the most part, did not believe.  Isaiah wrote in the Jewish writings, one is to come that will be King of the Jews; one who will shepherd them. 

Ironic - the one who came to be King of the Jews was rejected by them and glorified by the non-Jews.  Of course, it was later revealed that He came to be King of all people. 

So, the ones who believed are the shepherds who came to glorify Him and told others about what they had seen and the Magi who brought him wealth and glory as well.  That's about it for the child. 

Notice that those who believed did something.  If you believe, do something.
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