Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt.
– Matthew 2:14
– Matthew 2:14
1ST READING
The
feast of the Holy Innocents is one whereby we remember those who have
lost their lives through no fault of their own, especially those who
have been aborted. Herod attempts the impossible — to kill the child
Jesus without knowing His identity — thus, he initiates a great massacre
of children. Similarly, war, abortion or drug trafficking do not
discrimate, too. We cannot truly call ourselves a human society when
such horrors go unchecked and often without question.
1 John 1:5-2:2
5 Beloved:
This is the message that we have heard from Jesus Christ and proclaim
to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” while we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do not act in truth. 7 But
if we walk in the light as he is in the light, then we have fellowship
with one another, and the blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all
sin. 8 If we say, “We are without sin,” we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing. 10 If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 2: 1 My
children, I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin. But
if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ
the righteous one. 2 He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.
P S A L M
Psalm 124:2-3, 4-5, 7-8
R: Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler’s snare.
2 Had not the Lord been with us — when men rose up against us, 3 then would they have swallowed us alive. When their fury was inflamed against us. (R) 4 Then would the waters have overwhelmed us; the torrent would have swept over us; 5 over us then would have swept the raging waters. (R) 7 Broken was the snare, and we were freed. 8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. (R)
GOSPEL
The
lives of all children are vulnerable to the powerful, especially the
self-interested and the uncaring. One of the greatest tragedies of the
present consumerist society is how we don’t seem to care about the type
of world we will bequeath to the next generation — one full of denuded
landscapes from the misuse and abuse of the environment; stockpiles of
highly radioactive materials that have not been properly disposed of,
and many others besides, including exhausted natural resources. And all
for what? For a moment’s pleasure and comfort! It is this sort of
shortsighted thinking that endangers the health of our Mother Earth.
Matthew 2:13-18
13 When the magi had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” 14 Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. 15 He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” 16 When
Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi, he became
furious. He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its
vicinity two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had
ascertained from the magi. 17 Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet: 18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be consoled, since they were no more.”
REFLECTION
SILENCE IN SUFFERING
In
the midst of this joyous season of Christmas, we are confronted with
the horror of evil. The Church today honors those silent witnesses, the
holy innocents. No word is spoken from their lips; no actions of
retaliation are made manifest. They are born, they suffer and they die
in silence. Jesus, too, is born in silence; He suffers death, and dies
in silence. From the very depths, silence is heard by God alone.
Luke reports that Herod was furious at having been outwitted by the
Wise Men. His anger is so violent that it results in the murdering of
male infants. He is not at rest until his rage has been relieved. No one
in his mind has a right to take his throne. So intense is his fury that
he sees the murderous act as his only solution to keeping the throne.
We can see in Herod the extent of selfishness made manifest. Fortunately, the Holy Family escapes,
remaining in Egypt until a suitable time to return. Already, a few days
after Jesus’ birth, He is experiencing exile and rejection from His
own. John writes about this in his Gospel.
Violence is all around us. The nightly news reminds us of the horrors
of domestic and worldly violence within nations and homes. We ourselves
witness the suffering of the innocent in our own time. History repeats
itself as we are in touch with the issues of abortion and euthanasia —
so rampant in most societies. Terrorism haunts us, national revolts are
brewing and tensions run high on the home front.
Jesus has stepped into the world as we know it. Blessed be God who has the final say. On the Cross, He has shown us victory over death, and the
power of God over seemingly unending violence. The Gospel points to
hope. Jesus is the Hope of all Nations. He comes as the Prince of Peace.
He is the Wonderful Counselor. He is Mighty God. In the midst of
worldly violence, we must turn to Jesus. We offer to Jesus, who is peace
Himself, our families, nations and governments. We unite our prayers
with Him and His mother, Mary, who is the Queen of Peace. Fr. Brian Steele, MGL
" Lord, I suffer in silence as I see the world around me steeped in violence. Make me a channel of Your peace. Amen."
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