Home By Another Way

I can never hear this weekend’s gospel without thinking of James Taylor…wait, what?!   This weekend’s gospel tells of the Magi visiting Jesus and King Herod’s anxiety about a prophesy telling of a new ruler of the people of Israel.  So what could this possibly have to do with James Taylor?  Well, Taylor had an album out in the late 80’s called “Never Die Young”.  The title of the album featured a song of the same name and that song was the only charting hit from that album.  But I’m a Taylor fan and I did purchase the CD, yes that’s correct a “CD”, remember it was the late 80’s. One of the songs on that CD was titled “Home by Another Way”.  In the song Taylor and co writer Timothy Mayer wrote about this very gospel.  It’s almost as though it was a poem of the story of the Magi and looming threats from King Herod.  It’s cleverly written as they describe the wise men visiting Jesus and enjoying their stay but “warned in a dream of King Herod’s scheme, they went home by another way”.  The repeating message is all about going home by another way as the song is titled.  

I personally interpreted the song as a cautioning of avoiding bad things.  The message I heard in the song was to avoid things that seemed good or attractive on the outside but really were not good in the end, such as when Taylor sings “stay clear of royal welcomes, avoid a big to-do, a king who would slaughter the innocent will not cut a deal for you”.  Yes James, that’s right!  Avoid the “Herods” out there in the world, the tempting things that lead us astray and away from good, and away from Jesus and away from light.  There are so many things that lead us away from goodness.  The internet, TV, social media are flooded with junk that get in the way of our spirituality and lead us away from God.  So what are we supposed to do?  I certainly don’t possess the wealth of knowledge to know the answer to that question but if you think about it, we can start fresh with the New Year and try a different “way” as Taylor suggested and as God suggested to the kings in a dream.

 I’m currently reading Matthew Kelly’s book “The Four Signs of a Dynamic Catholic”.  In it he talks about being silent and how difficult that is for people today in our culture.  It’s almost uncomfortable.  Kelly references C.S. Lewis’s book “The Screwtape Letters”. The story is about an apprentice to the Devil who must tempt a young man away from God.  The apprentice tries dreaming up new ways to do this but the Devil tells him not to waste his time thinking up new schemes but rather to use the very simple plan of “creating so much noise in the world that man can no longer hear the voice of God in his life”.  That story was written in the 1940s but has much relevance today.  Kelly also highlights many of the saints as they conversed with God.  Kelly writes “It is in silence that God speaks to us”.  One way we can try to enhance our relationship with God is by being silent.   

 If you’re feeling stuck spiritually, maybe try “another way”.  Try inserting prayer time in your daily routine.  If you already do that try a new approach. Maybe pray first thing in the morning or later in the evening.  Maybe sit in a comfortable chair and speak to God not just in scripted prayer, but a real conversation like you would your best friend.  Maybe pray the rosary while you’re on the treadmill or walking your dog?  There are many options to try and converse with God and shut out the noise.  If we use a little imagination we can make a plan and one that doesn’t seem as daunting as losing “x” amount of pounds by Valentine’s Day or whatever weight and fitness goals we often strive for in the New Year.  There are many possibilities to explore.  We don’t have to do them all.  Just try one small change and see if it makes a difference, see if it helps bring you closer to God.  Above all try to avoid the pitfalls, the temptations, the “Herods” of your life. We all have them.  And may God bless you all in this New Year on your faith journey. 

For your curiosity and pleasure, I have put the James Taylor song lyrics below. 

 Home by Another Way, James Taylor, Timothy Mayer

Those magic men the Magi
Some people call them wise
Or Oriental, even kings
Well anyway, those guys
They visited with Jesus
They sure enjoyed their stay
Then warned in a dream of King Herod's scheme
They went home by another way

Yes, they went home by another way
Home by another way
Maybe me and you can be wise guys to
And go home by another way
We can make it another way
Safe home as they used to say
Keep a weather eye to the chart on high
And go home another way

Steer clear of royal welcomes
Avoid a big to-do
A king who would slaughter the innocents
Will not cut a deal for you
He really, really wants those presents
He'll comb your camel's fur
Until his boys announce
They've found trace amounts
Of your frankincense, gold and myrrh

And they go home by another way
Home by another way
You have to figure the Gods, saying play the odds
And go home by another way
We can make it another way
Safe home as they used to say
Keep a weather eye to the chart on high
And go home another way

Home is where they want you now
You can more or less assume
That you'll be welcome in the end
Mustn't let King Herod haunt you so
Or fantasize his features
When you're looking at a friend

Well it pleasures me to be here
And to sing this song tonight
They tell me that life is a miracle
And I figured that they're right
But Herod's always out there
He's got our cards on file
It's a lead pipe cinch
If we give an inch
Old Herod likes to take a mile

It's best to go home by another way
Home by another way
We got this far to a lucky star
But tomorrow is another day
We can make it another way
Safe home as they used to say
Keep a weather eye to the chart on high
And go home another way

Reflection by Mary Juliano Hayes