I am a big Harry Potter fan. I devoured those books when they came out, even standing in line in London at midnight for the release of one of the volumes. It’s a fantastic good vs. evil tale, and it’s impossible not to rally around Harry and his friends and mentors. These characters embody the essence of resilience, service and friendship. And is there a more sinister bad guy than Voldemort? A wizard with immense power yet afraid of a mere boy.  Voldemort is bent on eradicating Harry to safeguard his supremacy among wizards. He accepts without question the prophecy about Harry and schemes in secrecy and darkness to vanquish him.

Sounds a lot like King Herod in the Christmas story doesn’t it? He, too, feels threatened by a mere boy. He, too, accepts the prophecy about the Anointed of God, even confessing him as the Christ when he asked about where the boy would be born. Herod, like Voldemort, is consumed with eliminating what he believes to be a rival.

“While the Magi’s gaze is heavenward, Herod’s is downward, frantically surveying his realm for signs of Jesus.”

On the other hand, we have the good guys – Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, and today, cue the Magi, members of an ancient priestly Persian caste who were skilled in science and astronomy. These wise guys arrive at Herod’s gate asking for directions to the newborn King. Their reaction to the news about this boy’s birth couldn’t provide a greater contrast. The Magi are thrilled. The discovery of the star caused them to rejoice with boundless joy and impelled them to action. They are elated to have found the sure road that will lead to this newborn king of the Jews. The entire goal of the exhausting journey they were willing to undertake is to adore Him.  While the Magi’s gaze is heavenward, Herod’s is downward, frantically surveying his realm for signs of Jesus. Herod is incapable of noticing this dazzling star, whose splendor illuminates the night sky for miles. He is blind to the light which will lead the Magi to the Source of Light.

Herod calls the Magi in secret, dealing in darkness as Voldemort would. He feigns devotion and piety with his words. He wants to find the child, too, but homage is definitely not on his to do list. The wise men, in contrast, like all wise men, seek the truth, searching diligently until they find it, and unhesitatingly, submit themselves fully to it upon discovery. The climax of all their religious and scientific studies culminates in falling prostrate before Jesus and sharing their treasure with Him. These foreigners, these Gentiles, subvert Herod’s and all of the ancient world’s refusal to welcome their Savior.

After offering their gifts, the wise men heed a warning in their dreams. They do not return to Herod to make the case for God, rightly suspecting he would oppose their witness of faith. They do not allow themselves to be drawn into affairs that will detract from the joy and peace they are experiencing as a result of their encounter with the Lord. In silence, they withdraw to return to their homeland, and like Mary, ponder all these things in their hearts.

There is a beautiful word that appears in today’s Gospel that appears throughout the Bible that I believe is the key to why the Magi and Herod have such different reactions to the same news: behold. 

“Once we decide to behold, we are available for awe and wonder, to be present to what is, without the filter of our preferences or the false ledger of judging things as important or not important. A much broader, much deeper, and much wider field of perception opens up, becoming an alternative way of knowing and enjoying.”