(credit: Varsha Salome)
The Magi made a mistake!
These wise men from the East probably traveled close to ten thousand miles guided by the star that signified the birth of the king of the Jews. However when they approached Jerusalem, they took their eyes off the star; employing their own logic and human reasoning they landed up in Herod’s court and committed a grave faux pas by asking a question that does precious little to enhance their reputation as “wise” men. They simply assumed that a royal birth deserves the setting of a palace; their wisdom did not inform them of the treacherous design of the tetrarch Herod.
And when they eventually resumed their journey, the star was there to guide them to Bethlehem. After worshipping Jesus and presenting their gifts, they had to be specifically warned by God to give Herod a miss on the way back.
Do we tend to get too clever by half?
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* 30 January, setting 1 January as Day 1