The Magi and Humility

 
What does the Lord require of you but to do justice,
 and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?

                       Micah 6:8

I've written a couple of times through the year about the curious custom of the British monarch to bestow "Maundy money" during Holy Week, specifically on Maundy Thursday. It is an old tradition during which the king or queen washed the feet of subjects and distributed coins minted specially for the occasion. Well, the foot-washing ended centuries ago but Queen Elizabeth still hands out the loot during a special service.



I discovered yesterday that there is a crown which is part of the royal collection worn annually by King Henry VIII as part of the Epiphany celebration, reflecting the arrival of "Three Kings" or Magi as mentioned in the gospel of Matthew. Henry would process to the Chapel Royal in full regalia to offer gold, frankincense and myrrh, celebrating the visit of the Three Kings to the newborn Jesus.It's hard to imagine Henry, the licentious and murderous monarch, wearing it with humility or any true devotion to Christ, whether toddler or saviour. The current crown is a copy of the original which was melted down by Oliver Cromwell during the brief abolition of the monarchy.

It's a reminder of the strange relationship between political power and religion, even though there are few monarchs who rule today. Every time I see Christian leaders gathered around Emperor Trump in a show of prayer, his head bowed, I feel rather ill. It has the appearance of a coronation rather than genuine prayer, and even though Trump is open in saying that he never asks forgiveness, nor shows the vaguest sign of contrition or humility.

Some evangelicals have taken the bizarre tack of comparing Trump to King Cyrus, a secular leader mentioned in the Old Testament book of Ezra who was instrumental in the return from exile of the people of Israel. The connection is so tenuous it is literally incredible. So much for a democratically elected leader whose responsibility is to the people.

After the Magi found Jesus and paid to him homage they ignored the ruler Herod's instruction to reveal the child's whereabouts and returned home by another route. They understood that no amount of bling or custom or scripture-twisting could replace true devotion to the Messiah, the Promised One.

Christians would do well to remember this when they are tempted to be enamoured by power.