A blessing

Janet Scott reflects on the gospel of Matthew

by Janet Scott 23rd December 2011

There they are on the Christmas cards – three men on camels striding across a desert – sometimes in silhouette, sometimes seen with crowns, gorgeous robes and treasure chests. They have come to us through pictures and carols as part of a ‘Christmas story’. They have changed character from astronomers to kings. They have been linked with shepherds and stables – another story altogether. And when we tell their story, we stop at the ‘happy ending’ of their return home and ignore the massacre that their enquiries provoked.