Herod, the Roman empire, and the terrible story of the first Christmas

The first story of Christmas was terrible. Part of Christmas’ story was the bloody killings of children that had etched a horrible mark in human memory. The killings happened because they were threats to the ruling order.

Herod, being a puppet of the Roman Empire, was despised by his own people. He was unsuccessful in winning the hearts and minds of his people in spite of the many “Build, build, build” projects he did for Judea, including the reconstruction of the Temple in Jerusalem.

The birth of Jesus reminds us how a boy like him was saved from the killing spree of children as the merriment empire commanded the killings of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old (Matthew 2:16). The family was spared from the version of killings made possible by the ruling power. The tokhang of children sent a chilling effect on people. And so, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus had to flee. What a lonely replica, “This is what the LORD says: ‘A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.’” (Jer.31:15)

On the day Jesus was born, there was no hospitable place to take them in. Maybe everyone was busy and every house was full. Or perhaps, people were afraid to host suspicious people—those who were a threat to Herod, afraid that they might be entrapped by supporting “suspicious’’ people. In the count of Luke 2:1-20, the most hospitable was a manger in a stable. He was with the dirt and familiar scene of discomfort. But that became their sanctuary. Jesus had a firsthand smell of animals, then later of shepherds who visited him. They were the witnesses to his birth.

No romantic prose for the scenery. No one would be wishing a good Christmas Eve in a stable now.

Matthew 2:13-15: “When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up,’ he said, ‘take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.’”

So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night, and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” (NIV)

After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.” (Matthew2:19)

The death of Herod must have provided temporary relief on the massacres and execution of children and people. Anyone who would be a suspect rising against Herod, suffered the ire of his tyranny.

Under such circumstances, the death of a tyrant would serve a sigh of relief to the people.

While we are thankful that Jesus was saved, we could also pause for a moment and remember the children in the past and present who were and are sacrificed and killed as the empire unsheathed its sword against perceived enemies.

Jesus who was born in a lowly manger died on conspiratorial capital punishment, reborn in our hearts. He is our hero, the great man who subverted the order of the unjust empire.

Merry Christmas, as we are wont to say now and then. But we know that it is not always a merry Christmas to many. Jesus must be sharing his solidarity and salvific message with them. The merriment of Christmas is the undying hope and unending resoluteness to carry on his mission.

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.” (Luke 4:18) This Christmas, Jesus must be one with the workers and supporters calling for living wage and price control on consumer goods. This Christmas, Jesus must be one with the political detainees who are victims of weaponization of the law to imprison them—while they are working for justice, and seeking for the ending of exploitation. Jesus must be with them as they demand for their freedom. This Christmas, Jesus must be with the hungry and homeless, with the jobless and sick—as they dream for justice that would eliminate hunger and poverty.

Let us not give chance to the exploitative capitalists and uncompassionate governmental system who would exploit Christmas to increase their profits without sharing them to workers.

Back to the first story of Christmas, may the light of the star lead us to justice, truth, and peace.

Norma P. Dollaga,

Kapatirang Simbahan

Para sa Bayan