You know that every king lives in a beautiful palace. King Herod lives in that large castle, where he has a lot of butlers, maids, cooks, attendants. All day long he just enjoys his luxurious life, he swims in his swimming pool, he invites guests to his dining room, he eats and drinks, and he has guards who don't let anyone enter, if they are not invited by the king himself…
But, as it happens to many powerful men, he knows that the people don't love him, because he doesn't care about them, he isn't interested in their lives, he is indifferent to their poverty or their problems. He just wants power and money… So he is always afraid of losing that power, he always feels threatened.
“Does he have a wife or children?”
Giulia asked.
“No, darling, he doesn't want to share his money with someone else, and he is too selfish to have children…”
One day the scholars in his court come to tell him that they have read in the Scriptures, which we now know as the Bible, that a new King will soon be born in Israel, a King more powerful than Herod. You can imagine the reaction of that greedy man. A King? There can't be two kings in a country! What will that King do? Will he want Herod’s money? His palace? His servants? Herod can't sleep at night, he turns in his bed, and he can’t stop thinking of this great danger …
What can he do? He calls his scholars, and he asks them to study further, to try to learn something more about that King, but his butlers tell him that the people in the town don’t know anything. There is no sign around the country of preparations for the birth of a king, there is no other palace… Herod tries to relax, and to go on living normally, to go on feasting, eating and drinking. Maybe the scholars have misinterpreted the Scriptures, maybe the newborn king will govern another country, far from him…. He has almost convinced himself, when…
Silvia looked at her watch and told her children:
“Tomorrow your Christmas vacation will start, children. We can continue the story after lunch, if it is ok with your granny…”
“Of course, children. Come tomorrow, because I have to talk to you about the three Magi from the Orient…”
“Do they know Herod?” Mario asks, while they are putting on their jackets.
“No, but they meet him on their way to Bethlehem. See you tomorrow, children.”
ns216.73.216.10da2
and then Add to home screen.