Some are born great
There is a line in Shakespeare’s arsenal that few know where it comes from: “Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon ’em.” It comes from Twelfth night, which is what we celebrate today. Not, the play, but the actual biblical name whence the title derives. You thought Christmas was over, didn’t you? Obviously, most people get the 12 days of Christmas wrong. They think it’s 12 days leading up to Christmas, thanks to a lot of businesses promoting 12 day sales. According to the Church of England, Christmas is the first day. The 12th day is January 5, and tomorrow, January 6, is Epiphany or 3 Kings day. Other churches start the counting the day after Christmas, making epiphany the 12th day. Either way, it’s not over until some kid gets gold and spices.
But, that kid was the embodiment of Shakespeare’s line (all 3 parts). Despite his lowly beginning, the twelfth night appearance of the 3 kings, proclaiming him a savior means he was indeed born great. Then, he went on to “achieve” an unparalleled life and afterlife. But, he struggled with his fame and position, feeling it was “thrust upon” him. Jesus Christ Superstar had a great scene dramatizing his misgivings in “Gethsemane”. Whether or not you believe in Jesus as God or savior is beside the point. His life changed the world, which bestows upon him the mantle of greatness. And, with great power comes great responsibility. Unfortunately, for Jesus, he wasn’t around for his name becoming the rallying cry for death and destruction in myriad wars and claims of divine superiority throughout history.
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Some are born great; others are born rich
We mentioned that 12th night is an artifact of the Church of England. And, who leads the Church of England? The royal family. So, the legacy of Jesus, born in a manger to a lowly working class family is represented by one of the richest families in the world? Something doesn’t sound right there. Even if you adore the Royals, what is it that makes them “great”? All they do is make speeches and appearances. They have no real say over the policies that actually effect the lives of people. In our recent Christmas post, we talked about how the wealthiest individuals have the resources to actually help the poor and homeless. These are those exact people. Jesus would want people to live a modest life, dedicated to helping their neighbors. Being rich isn’t one of the virtues he espoused.
Mary and Joseph were, by what we know about them, poor before Jesus was born. But, they did receive the gifts of the Magi. We laugh at the Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh thing, since the latter 2 have little monetary value today. Gold always had value. But, at the time, the two incense/perfume/medicine ingredients were in high demand, fetching prices like modern day oil. Today, you can get them for about $24 an ounce on Amazon, while the same amount of gold costs over $2,000. While we don’t know how much of these ingredients the poor family got, we do know that they traveled to, and stayed in Egypt until they could return to Jerusalem. So, most of that fortune would be used up.
And, what was that whole thing about? Why would 3 dudes with no connection to the situation give valuable commodities to an infant? It’s not like the infant can do anything with them. But, I digress…
So, what are we really celebrating?
Whether you celebrate the last night before epiphany or the 3 Kings day itself, you are in the minority. If this were such a big day, Amazon and Walmart would be all over it, with huge sales, trying to get you to buy stuff with your gold, frankincense, and Myrrh. It’s more of a little secret amongst the highly devout, or people who celebrate random holidays that no one has heard of, or are totally made up. What kind of people would do that? Sounds like a waste of time…
Anyway, getting back to the matter at hand, yeah, we celebrate random stuff. And, what is more random than 3 guys following a star to a stable to give valuable stuff to a baby, whose parents take the valuable stuff to go on the lam until King Herod passed away, and his call for the death of the first born child subsided. And, what was Joseph’s role? We didn’t have Maury holding up a card and declaring: “You are not the father”. The whole thing sounds more like a Dateline story or a lifetime movie.
So, why not? We celebrate celebrity and royalty all the time. Jesus being born in a manger is less exciting than royalty declaring him the savior. So, it’s as good a day as any to celebrate. And, since we don’t know when Jesus was actually born, any random day fits the bill. So, here’s to randomness: Cheers!
Were these one time gifts?
Why would the three kings bring a gift just when the baby was born and not have a vested interest in the rest of his life? If he truly were the savior, wouldn’t they stick around? And, after making that kind of generous donation, wouldn’t they want something in return? Also, if they had shown up a couple weeks earlier, maybe Mary wouldn’t have had to give birth in a freaking stable…
Even the actual number of Kings (and whether they were actually kings, Magi, wise men, astrologers, etc) is questionable. The common conception is there were 3. But, some stories have as many as a dozen.
Of course, since we can’t even get the number of wise guys straight, we don’t know the true identity, or what happened to them after this mid winter encounter. The names Balthasar of Arabia, Melchior of Persia, and Caspar of India are generally accepted. And, supposedly, they went back to their countries. But wouldn’t they have left someone to follow such an important person? What kind of benefactor travels across desserts and mountains to bring lavish gifts to a child who fulfills religious prophecies, then leaves?
People talk about mysteries of faith. What about these actual mysteries? And, the Magi are only specifically mentioned in one passage in the book of Matthew. So, we want to know: What really happened?.
Did the Magi know some are born great?
Did they even know where they were going? How do you “follow” a star? It’s in the night sky. It’s not actually over a certain town. If you’ve ever been driving and seen the moon huge over the horizon, only to have it shrink when you go around a bend, you know how celestial bodies work. And, these guys followed a star for a couple weeks. How did these leaders of 3 very far apart countries happen to all be traveling together? Were they at a Magi convention?
The more we think about it, the more questions arise, and the fewer answers. No wonder religious adherents have such strong faith. If you start to question things, the whole thing falls apart. Best to treat it like fiction and not question the rules of physics and human nature.
Mark Twain is credited with the quote: “The best cure for Christianity is reading the Bible.” Indeed, most “Christians”, even if they read the bible, rely on others to interpret it for them. And, they focus on pithy quotes to prove their point du jour, while ignoring the contradictions and inaccuracies that abound. Leaders of church and state invoke the name of the lord to justify their wrongdoing and acts of repression and violence against “non believers”. They can’t even agree within the structure of the texts themselves. Hence, the fracturing of Christianity into multiple branches, with estimates that there are upwards of 45,000 separate sects.
And, the Magi, weren’t Christian. They were Zoroastrian. So, maybe they did know some are born great. Why else would they travel that far?
So, who are you going to believe?
Zoroastrians were a sect, originating in Persia, who studied astrology. And, if the Magi were following “a star” chances are, it wasn’t actually a star. There are multiple theories of what it was. This includes comets. But, comets move, so you couldn’t really follow them. The most likely culprits are planets. One posits that the moon would cross paths with Jupiter. This actually fits with religious dogma of the time. Jupiter is considered Royal. And, the moon would indicate a birth, thus the interpretation of an ancient astrologist would conclude the birth of a king. But, telescopes weren’t exactly abundant at that time, so that would be a stretch. The more likely culprit is a conjunction of planets, like Jupiter, Saturn, and or Venus. According to modern science and charting of skies, several of these phenomena occurred right around this time.
Remember, Herod died after the birth of Christ, but before the start of the Christian Calendar. This is it’s own problem, since The calendar is supposed to start with the birth of Jesus. If he was born before Herod died, that would be around 4 to 6 BC. So, who are you going to believe the astrologers who follow the empirical movement and conjunction of solar objects or a group of guys who decided 300 years after the fact when a calendar would start? For more on this, see our New Year Post.
If some are born great, let’s celebrate being born
The band “Gang of four” had a song; “Not Great men” with the chorus, history is “not made by great men”. Strong men write the history books, and delete pesky facts that expose their weakness.
No weak men in the books at home
The strong men who have made the world
History lives on the books at home
Whether you believe in Jesus divinity or not, we can agree he was a great man. That’s why he died at the hands of weaker men who were threatened by his very existence. And, it was a group of cloistered weak men who re-wrote what we know about Jesus several centuries afterward, because the Romans retained power, even if they adapted their theistic point of view. The books and stories left out tell just as much or more of a story than the ones included. The discovery of the dead sea scrolls and Gnostic codexes like the gospel of Mary demonstrate the lengths they went to to hide the truth. Who knows how many texts and stories were destroyed or altered over the years.
These writings, and, even non biased readings of the existing canon, reveal that the books were doctored. They paint Mary as a whore. When, in fact, she was actually a strong leader, and in some ways, Jesus’s equal. And, Jesus is called a carpenter’s son. He may have been raised as a carpenter. But, wasn’t he really “God’s son”?
The Wise Men recognized this
So, why can’t people see past dogma to the truth? Jesus was born great. And, there is greatness in all of us. We just have to tap into it. Unfortunately, most don’t. the quote from 12th night should give pause for us to figure out which we are. While some are born great, others achieve or have it thrust upon them. To rebel against an unjust group of power hungry people is indeed a “great” cause. But, it’s not just the rebellion. Jesus taught a central tenet that is lost in all the rhetoric and interpretation of the rulers of the church throughout the centuries: Love thy neighbor as you would love yourself.
Jesus came as a humble person. So, you never know if the person next to you could be God incarnate. Either way, all living beings deserve fair and equal treatment. And, that’s what makes one great: recognizing the intrinsic value of all life. Being great doesn’t mean you conquer things. It’s in the acceptance of all things as part of the bigger picture. It’s doing no harm as you want no harm yourself. Jesus could have been a very rich and powerful man if he exploited the message sent by the wise men, and his parents hadn’t squandered the gifts of the Magi. If he lived among the Zoroastrians, he could have been their ruler. But, he lived a humble existence amongst people who feared his greatness.
So, on this twelfth night, strive for greatness
Here’s a little secret that some know, and others just fail to acknowledge. We are all part of an ever expanding universe. The gnat, human, dinosaur, planet, and galaxy all derive from the same font of existence. Some seek difference where there is none. We are all the same. They say God is “all knowing”. The only way that can be is if God or a force called god is in everything. So, if god is in everything, there is no difference. Thus, we should treat all equally. Although, I prefer Mojo Nixon’s take on this: Elvis is everything.
This seems to be a recurring theme here these days. It has to do with the celebration of holidays big and small. While people muddle through day to day life, the bigger picture is lost. We are all part of everything. And, as such, we seek connection. And, that’s where food comes in. The greatest people create the greatest things over a meal. Jesus life revolved around food. He received Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh which serve culinary as well as pecuniary purposes. At the Wedding at Canaan, he performed the miracle of the loaves and fishes. And, of course, there was the last supper. So, on this 12th night, let’s celebrate greatness with food. We could do like the Jews of Jesus ‘s time and sacrifice a lamb. Or, we could be more mindful and try some vegetarian fair since we want to respect all living things (except plants).
We might even add in some of the spices of the Magi. So, here are some recipes for Meat and non meat eaters.
Wild Mushroom Kibbeh
Ingredients
- For Shell:
- 2 Cups Bulgur Wheat
- 4 Cups Water
- 1 Cup Almonds
- 1/2 Cup Olive Oil
- 1 Tbsp Ground Cumin
- 1 tsp Kosher Salt
- 2 tsp Smoked paprika
- 1 tsp Dried Marjoram or oregano
- 1 tsp Pomegranate molasses or balsamic reduction
- 1/2 tsp Cracked Black Pepper
- Zest of 1 small lemon
- 1 Cup AP flour
- For Filling:
- 2 Cup Chopped Fresh Wild mushrooms preferably an assortment
- 1 Cup Diced Sweet Onion
- 1 tsp Chopped fresh garlic
- 1 Cup Diced Potatoes
- 1/2 Cup fresh or frozen Peas
- 2 tsp Ground Cumin
- 1/2 tsp Ground cardamom
- 1/2 Cup Sherry Wine
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- Neutral Oil for Frying
Instructions
- Soak the Bulgur in water until it absorbs most of it. The grains should double in size.
- Drain the bulgur well. Then Place all ingredients except flour in a food processor. Pulse until it becomes a soft paste. If too dry, you can add a touch of water.
- Fold in the flour by hand in a mixing bowl until it makes a nice dough. If too wet, add a little more flour. Refrigerate until ready to assemble.
- Make the filling: Saute the onion, garlic, and potatoes in a little olive oil over medium heat until the potatoes soften. Add in the mushrooms and cook until they are soft as well. Add the spices and continue cooking. Add the wine and reduce until all the liquid evaporates. Then fold in the peas. They should cook quickly. Remove from heat and cool.
- Take the dough and form balls with with your hand. You can make them as big or small as you want. For a good appetizer size, we recommend getting about 24 balls.
- Press the dough flat into oval or round shapes. Then fill each with the filling and fold them together. Seal the filling in as best you can. Pinch and crimp the ends to keep it from seeping out.
- Freeze the kibbeh until ready to cook. They don't have to be totally solid. But, Freezing makes them easier to work with.
- Heat oil for frying on a stove or in a fryer. Fry until golden brown. Drain on paper towels, and serve while hot. We recommend a tzatziki or tahini sauce to accompany.
Frankincense and Myrrh Smoked lamb loin with Eggplant Chutney
Equipment
- roasting pan with draining rack
Ingredients
- For Lamb
- 2 Lb Trimmed lamb loin may substitute other tender cut of lamb like lamb rack with bones removed
- 2 Tbsp Chopped Fresh garlic
- 2 Tbsp Chopped Fresh Marjoram
- 2 Tbsp Chopped Fresh Rosemary
- 1 tsp Ground Cumin
- 1/2 tsp ground Sumac
- 1/2 Cup Olive oil
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1/4 oz Frankincense incense https://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Aromas-Frankincense-Biblical-Fragrance/dp/B0CCSFJWW9/ref=asc_df_B0CCSFJWW9/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=675730641309&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2592222546721476801&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9002023&hvtargid=pla-2245914012879&psc=1&mcid=b9b02c9211cb30ca93b2195bdfaf8bd5
- 1/4 oz Myrrh incense https://www.amazon.com/Incense-Igneous-Products-Commiphora-Erythraea/dp/B082668NJ5/ref=asc_df_B082668NJ5/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=416960645012&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9980044762910990967&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9002023&hvtargid=pla-911434100310&psc=1&mcid=714d03c621983230bcb32ce66375961e&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=97671762687&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=416960645012&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9980044762910990967&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9002023&hvtargid=pla-911434100310&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1OSOoaa3gwMVU1pHAR1ynQEzEAQYAiABEgLOuPD_BwE
- water to soak incense
- For Eggplant:
- 3 Cup Peeled and Diced Eggplant
- 1 Cup Diced Sweet onion
- 1 tsp Chopped Fresh garlic
- olive oil for cooking
- 1 tsp Ground Cumin
- 1/4 Cup Sugar
- 1 Cup White Balsamic Vinegar
- 1 Tbsp Chopped Fresh Rosemary
- 1/4 Cup Chopped Fresh Parsley
- The juice of 1 lemon
Instructions
- Mix the oil, herbs and spices for the lam in a bowl Marinate the meat for at least 1 hour.
- Make the chutney: Saute the onion, garlic, and eggplant over medium high heat until softened. Add the sugar and melt it. Add the cumin and mix well. Then add the vinegar and turn the heat down to a low simmer. Cook until the liquid becomes a coating. Season with salt and pepper, and add in the herbs. Then cool until ready to use.
- Preheat oven to 350.
- In a roasting pan with a rack, Soak the incense in just enough water to cover it until it absorbs most of the water.
- In a large saute pan, sear the meat in a little olive oil over high heat. You don't want to cook it, just get some color on the meat. Then transfer it to the roasting pan with the incense in the bottom.
- Heat the roasting pan over a high flame on the stove until the incense begins to smoke. Then cover the pan either with a provided lid or aluminum foil. Put it in the oven to let it cook.
- Cook until the meat reaches your desired temperature. For Medium rare, you want a temperature of about 120 to 125 degrees Fahrenheit. This should take about 10 to 20 minutes depending on the thickness of the meat.
- When it is done, take the meat out of the pan and allow it to rest about 10 minutes. In the meantime, heat the chutney over low heat. When the meat has rested, slice it in thin pieces and serve with the chutney.