We live in a world where decisions are made without any reference to the divine. The great temptation is to think that we can be masters of our own lives. And, if we are masters of our own lives, there is no room for mystery, and certainly no room for God.

Our Scripture selections give us two images - one of mastery, the other of mystery. We are presented with Herod and also with the wise men. Herod was absolutely and totally consumed with controlling
others. He suspected his wife of being unfaithful to him, and so without so much as a second thought, he ordered his wife Mariamne and her alleged lover to be put to death immediately. He also murdered many other relatives, including his sons Alexander and Aristobolus.

This desire to be master of other people often has its roots in an attitude to life, which says that we need to be the one in charge of everything. We want to control how fast the person in front of us is driving,

how long we have to wait in the grocery line, how long we live, how long others should live, who my neighbours will be, who belongs to our clubs and so on and so forth. This desire for power and
control can destroy communities, relationships, marriages, parishes - there is very little that
escapes its terrible touch.

On the other end of the scale from Herod, we find the wise men. These men were filled with the spirit of wonder and mystery...they were willing to be led into new and unknown territory in their futures. They seemed to be totally free of the need to dominate others. Life was not something to be
manipulated. We need mystery more than we need mastery. We are not God. It's that simple and that blatant. When we try to play God, nothing goes right. Our need is to surrender to life as it is, with all of its unknown and absolutely mysterious qualities.
                                           Peace, Fr. John