God is a King. The Savior he sends us, Jesus Christ, the Son of God made man, comes not to philosophize, but to rule.  Herod trembled because he knew this.  The Wise Men rejoiced because they knew this.

Even before Jesus can talk, he teaches us a precious truth about ourselves. In our hearts there dwell two potential responses to the coming of such a King: Herod's or the Magi's. 

Herod had spent his life murdering, extorting, and building a personal kingdom ruled by his whims for his personal glory.  Christ enters the scene - a King with authority from on high.  Herod immediately feels the threat.  If Christ is not destroyed or discredited, it could spell the end of all his labors.

The Magi, on the other hand, do not fear the demands that this new King will make on their personal lives.  Instead, they rejoice to know that God's Savior is finally coming.  Instead of hoarding and protecting their treasures, the fruits of their life's labors, they generously offer them to Christ as gestures of honor, respect, and allegiance.

Whenever Christ enters our lives, which he does everyday through the voice of conscience, the teachings of his Church, and the designs of Providence, we must choose in whose steps we will follow, Herod's or the Magi's.  Will we tremble, afraid of what Jesus may demand of us?  Or will we rejoice, glad to have such a glorious Lord to follow?  We have both possibilities in our hearts - we are potential Herods, and we also are potential Magi.

Why did Herod try to destroy Jesus, but the Magi worshipped him?  The difference can be summed up in one word: humility. The Magi had humility, Herod lacked it.  History tells us where that lack of humility landed him.  Herod spent his life trying to keep everything under his control.  He became pathologically suspicious.  He ended up murdering his own wife and three of his sons, because he thought they were plotting against him.

In fact, his whole life was a series of violent, horrible crimes.  His tyrannical fear of losing control eventually made him universally hated, even by his closest collaborators.  As he lay dying, he ordered a thousand of his best servants and ministers to be led into a stadium and slaughtered, because he wanted to be sure there was mourning and sadness in his kingdom upon his death.

Joseph Stalin, the equally bloody tyrant of early Soviet Russia, followed a similar path.   He climbed the ladder of success by lying, double-crossing, and murdering.  And once he had reached the top, he systematically eliminated all potential rivals.  But soon he began to think everyone was a potential rival.  He sent his best friends to concentration camps in Siberia.  He became so suspicious of plots against his life that he slept in a different corner of his house every night.  He too died fearful, miserable, and half-crazed.

These extreme examples illustrate the all-important fact that we are not God. God is God.  We are not meant to control everything; we are meant to humbly follow Christ, to trust him, to kneel before him, like the Magi, and say with our lives, "Thy will be done, not mine; thy Kingdom come; not mine." 

Herod couldn't say that, Stalin couldn't say that - the Magi could. They gave everything over to Christ. And they went home full of joy.

What are we holding onto?  Which part of our life is still resisting Christ's Kingship?  Which room in our soul is still locked, and we haven't given Jesus the key?

Maybe it's our goals.  Maybe we are still thinking that our great achievements will give meaning to our life.  They won't - only Christ will.  The only achievement that will last is that of fulfilling his will, following his example and his teachings.  Today, once and for all, let's lay those achievements, those gold medals we covet so much, at the feet of the baby Jesus, just like the Magi offered the gift of gold.

Maybe it's the affections of our heart.  Maybe we still think that the perfect relationship will give meaning to our life.  It won't.  There is no such thing as the perfect relationship - at least, not without Christ.  In fact, he is the one who gives every relationship its lasting beauty and joy.  We need to strive to please him first, and then he will make our relationships pleasing beyond our wildest dreams.  Today, let's lay the affections of our heart at his feet, just as the Magi offered our Lord the sweet smell of their frankincense.

Maybe it's our sufferings.  Maybe we are still angry at God for the hurt we have experienced in life.  But if he has permitted it, it's only because he knows he can transform it.  Let's stop rebelling against our King and loving Lord and lay our sufferings at his feet - just as the Magi offered him their myrrh, the spicy ointment used to embalm bodies for burial.

Jesus wants to be our King, so that we can enjoy the adventure of living in and fighting for his Kingdom. Let's let him.