STAY WELL & SPARKLE: Herod’s Christmas

Three KingsWe cannot tell the exact date Jesus was born. Therefore, we should not be celebrating Christmas, some say. Herod believed in Christmas – very much so. And to this day, there are those who believe like him, and those who believe like us.

My most amazing trip to a country far, far away, was to the Holy Land in 2011. I accompanied my brother Gabriel, current Kalinago Chief Charles Williams and other Caribbean patriots on a development mission like no other. (Please note: the ideas expressed in today’s article are mine alone).

We were greeted by a prominent welcome sign at Ben Gurion Airport and whisked through customs. Over the following days, we toured several research, agricultural and manufacturing facilities. We experienced the wonderful workings of a kibbutz. There, citizens of different persuasions work together in a civilized manner for shared national goals. We did the whole nine yards: Holocaust museum, Dead Sea, Jerusalem, Tel-Aviv, Bethlehem, Calvary etc. The Wailing Wall is one of the most sacred spots in modern Israel. It is the western section remnant of the Temple Mount, which was constructed – and this seemed rather ironic – by none other than the illustrious King Herod himself!

I was probably just a little tululu at Goodwill Primary when I first understood Herod. The first time I read the story, I saw right through him. And you did as well, I’m sure.

Oh yes; there are some sobering historical facts about this man that does not come out in the traditional Christmas account.

We are all familiar with the Gospel of Matthew’s description of how the three wise men from the east followed the star of the one born King of the Jews. In no time, informants rushed word back to the palace of this potential threat to Herod’s power. If the Supreme Leader was going to rule for the 50 years, as he boasted, this baby boy had to be dealt with. So Herod rolled out psychology 101. He lavished the wise men with handouts. “Go search for the child. When you find him, report to me that I may go and worship him also.”

Oh please! These learned men were not dummies. And their hearts were sensitive to the Spirit’s leading. Something about Herod just did not ring true.

When Herod realized he had been outclassed, he decreed the Massacre of the Innocents: Kill all boys two years and under in Bethlehem and surrounding areas. But Joseph also had been warned in a dream of the King’s intentions and fled to Egypt with his Family. They did not return until Herod’s death. At that time, they relocated to Nazareth in Galilee to avoid living under Herod’s son Archelaus.

What is not commonly known about Herod was his extreme arrogance and pettiness. He was obsessed with erecting massive buildings as monuments to himself. These include fortresses such as Masada, Herodium and the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron. He was a party-all-the-time kind of leader. Sumptuous banquets were financed by heavy taxes on his struggling people.

Herod followed the foreign money in a big way. In the contest for Roman emperor, he dropped Mark Anthony, switching alliance to Octavian, the eventual winner. Thus, he was allowed to continue ruling Judea at the behest of Rome. As a result, the emperor granted him lease of copper mines on Cyprus. Wikipedia details how Herod and Cleopatra owned a monopoly over the extraction of asphalt from the Dead Sea, which was used in shipbuilding.

Herod was described as prepared to commit any crime in order to gratify his unbounded ambition. His stepdaughter Salome was the famous femme fatale whose sensuous dance earned her the privilege of requesting on a platter, the head of John the Baptist. Tales of the royal family sexual intrigues and backstabbing grew to legendary proportions.

The Pharisees and Sadducees were angry with Herod because he disrespected many of their religious traditions as he skillfully manipulated one denomination against the other. Yet, he had no shortage of religious leaders of his own. They were only too happy to justify the king providing they could gorge themselves on the perks of power.

According to the famous historian Josephus, Herod suffered throughout his lifetime from depression and paranoia. He ended up cowardly committing suicide by stabbing himself because he could not handle the pain of illness.

Dr. Sam Christian
Dr. Sam Christian

This is one of Dominica’s darkest Christmases in living memory. Festive lights and seasonal decorations are few and far between: government headquarters, some businesses and the occasional residence. The masses of citizens say things are dread – pretty much the same as they had been saying all along, well before Erika. There is a growing crescendo of suicides, murders, rapes, domestic abuses, fires and brazen break-ins. Meanwhile to see how Dominica continues to burnish its international image as a lawless and pariah nation, click here.

The one prayer I placed in the crevice of the Wailing Wall was for my homeland. It is darkest just before dawn. If so, that prayer seems on the cusp of being answered. So let us sing out our souls that the right Spirit rules our hearts this Advent – the same spirit that stirred Felix Henderson’s Christmas Dinner for the less fortunate. Be not unwise. Let it not be the spirit of Herod’s Christmas; for once he had crudely amassed his personal fortune, he was only too content to let his people suck salt.

 

Dr. Sam Christian MD is syndicated columnist focusing on health and related development issues. He runs the Urgent Care medical office on Bath Road for those interested in getting back to work faster. He can be reached at 767 440-9133 or by logging onto www.urgentcareda.weebly.com 

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16 Comments

  1. December 22, 2015

    It’s obvious Mr Skerrit is economical with the truth here.if the letter for Mrs Madueke’s passport was approved on may 21 & the prime minister signed it on may 29 this year, then he is not being sincere because as at the time President Buhari became elected president, everybody knew there was problem & rumours have started going around on Mrs Madueke’s plan to seek asylum in some other countries.
    So, either the due diligence was not’ diligent’ enough or it was negligent of certain facts

  2. wow
    December 21, 2015

    Great writing. Great writing indeed.

  3. forreal
    December 21, 2015

    if Christ was a lion by birth,how can u not know when Christ was born?

  4. imperial prince
    December 21, 2015

    jesus was definitely not born in December, atleast not he one who died on that cross, but this is excellent stuff.

    • imperial prince
      December 21, 2015

      the*

  5. House of Cards
    December 20, 2015

    Cabinet scrambling for damage control. Lot of grumbling but such unnecessary public relations disasters. Ministers trying to separate themselves.

    But they also know Dominicans have tete poule. Christmas coming, then New Years, more sewo;next thing they’ll be focusing on Carnival. All that will blow away once we change the topic.

    Maybe. But not this time. People really feel insulted. Just go to Youtube and search it for yourself. ‘Patricia Scotland suck
    salt’ and tell me how that makes you feel. Your right Doc. Herod’s time is coming…

  6. Throw up
    December 20, 2015

    This story is unfolding so fast it making my head spin!

    The rise and fall of Patricia Scotland. Nigerian grand larceny criminal for Dominica ambassador. How much did she pay? To whom? Did she get her money back or was it spent already?

    Top civil servants who know or should know are also accountable. When the big fish run away, you will be left to take the fall. Hope your foreign bank accounts have enough because we will not be easy on you. Save yourself now. Tell us all you know in confidence. We will protect you.

    Until that time comes, it makes me sick when people call me Dominican…

  7. Shocked and dismayed
    December 20, 2015

    I must confess that I was one who goshed and gloried in Patricia Scotland’s accomplishment. I stood up for for her when others were bashing her and the PM before the Commonwealth election. Honestly, I didn’t expect her to win so when she did, I was on the top of the world.

    Now this…suck salt?

    OMG! I am truly hurt and disappointed. Psalms says “put not your trust in man.” And woman too, I guess. Her detractors are rejoicing, “I told you so!” I’m sure whether she was the one influencing Herod or Herod influencing her. It was clear that she was coached in the Patois. But really there is no excuse. She is old enough to know better. This is beneath contempt.

    I will never call her Baroness again!

    • forreal
      December 21, 2015

      she meant suck salt to the one s who fought against her,so if the cap fits u suck salt,simple as that

  8. December 20, 2015

    If God is good all the time, and all the time God is great. In my opinion the real meaning for Celebrating his comining to us should be taking into perspective, not the giftsfrom Santa Clause, but the gift of God is the only true Gift we all need.

  9. The Bible Tells it all
    December 20, 2015

    Many people read the Bible yet miss the message. The Bible tells it all. At this time of Christmas where are the legions of red shirts, the bands hired to serenade Herod with thousands of dollars in limited funds, and those who took a free ride to impose their will on a country that they did not leave in to suck the salt? The waters of Erika came like a purge to wash away the sand castles of a land which has strayed from grace. How much difference does a year make? Well, by the exposure in the international press that the crooked Nigerian Oil Minister is now a newly minted Dominica diplomat, it must be that the Prince of Peace whose birth we celebrate must be angry.

  10. pic Sqiare
    December 20, 2015

    Doc once again you have nailed it. Herod’s idea of Christmas is a reflection of what is going on right now. There are a lot of Horods among us building up treasures for themselves and forgetting the people who gave them the power. There egos are so big but before long I hope they turn to God instead of turning to the ROPES. It was not God’s intention that his people suffer as some are suffering right now so.we must get rid of those herods among us. If not high blood pressure medication will run out because the people would have sucked too much salt.
    keep up the good works Doc and may you be abundantly blessed throughout the season and in the New Year.

  11. out of south city
    December 20, 2015

    I believe that your writing is a great analogy of what is presently happening in this once nature island of the Caribbean, Dr. Christian. Herod is not concerned about the lives of the less fortunate but increases his pomp and power over the people causing them to come crawling at his feet, while he feasts with HIS MAJESTY’S candidate who tells the people without any remorse, to suck salt.
    Keep enlightening the people and keep telling the truth. We all have the right to do so.
    PEACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  12. Wise up
    December 20, 2015

    Even the Wise Men look shocked at all what’s going on…

  13. Good facts
    December 20, 2015

    Wow! This the smoothest hard-hitting article I’ve come across in a while. The ending is powerful. This time you hit the nail on the head Doc!

    • Throw up
      December 20, 2015

      More like shocked and amused…

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