Yesterday — Jan. 6 — was Epiphany, commemorating the visit of the Magi to the Child Jesus (Matthew 2). And as I reflected on the close of the 12 days of Christmas and how to apply the lessons of Christmas to our society, it struck me that one of the reasons leftists might hate Christmas is because it stands for so much of what they hate, which includes the leadership and piety exemplified by the three kings.
Leftists, for example, teach that a leader should always put himself first. One wishes to be a leader so that one can exploit other people to serve one’s own wishes, justified because one is superior. That — the leftist philosophy — is the opposite of what the three kings did. They traveled from very far away at a time when travel was extremely difficult, following a star and a prophecy all the way to a cave in Bethlehem. They did this all so that they might worship a Divine Child. They gained nothing material out of it, and indeed, they likely impoverished themselves to some extent. But they knew what was most important.
This leads to the next point: Leftists say one should always enrich oneself at the expense of others and that nothing is immoral if it helps you be wealthy and successful. The Magi gave Christ the most expensive gifts they could — gold, frankincense, and myrrh (spices could be excessively costly). Leftism is a thoroughly selfish ideology; that is why it is diametrically opposed to Judaism and Christianity.
Another and more controversial point is that the three kings came to Bethlehem to honor a baby and celebrate life. Leftists love nothing so much as baby murder and they loathe innocence. Through transgenderism, homosexuality, and abortion, they attempt to reduce the human population. If they cannot end children’s lives, they groom them.
The Magi exemplified sacrificial, pious leadership, centered around God as the greatest good. Nothing could be a starker contrast to the irreligiousness, irreverence, and self-indulgence of leftism.
Related: ‘Christ Is a Star’: Reflections on the Epiphany
Interestingly, we might note that the evil King Herod had much more in common with leftists than the Magi did. He murdered children because of their similarity in age to the newborn Messiah, and leftists murder unborn children. Perhaps indeed leftists hate babies because of the image of God in them. God is pure, innocent, and gives hope. Babies are also pure and innocent, and full of hope and promise.
Herod, like leftists, prioritized his own power above all else. He did not value individual human life. He believed only his rule was important. And like Herod, leftists both fear and hate spiritual power. Herod lived as if he did not believe God or eternal judgment existed, and yet he was fearful enough of a prophecy to massacre children because of it. Leftists live as if they do not believe God or eternal judgment exists, but they also hate the very thought that any Christians and Jews exist who do not affirm their sins.
All of which is to say that in our age, as in the time of Christ, there are evil rulers and entities that are much more on the side of the devil than on the side of God. The question is whether we are going to be like the Magi or like King Herod.
