Gospel reading: Mt 2:13-18
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.” Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. 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.
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. Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet: 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.
ALL THE BOYS IN BETHLEHEM
Stephen was a fine young gentleman when he gave his life for Jesus and for the gospel. John followed Jesus as an apostle and, though he did not die a martyr’s death, he offered Jesus the rest of his life, reaching a ripe old age. The Hebrew children – two years old and under – are considered martyrs of the faith. Although they are yet unable to profess their faith in God, the sacrifice of their lives helps save the baby Jesus from the murderous Herod. One Church Father writes that the infant martyrs are now playing with their halo hoops in heaven.
The heavens rejoiced with the birth of the Messiah. Even the lowly shepherds, who were the first to learn about this good news, heard the singing of the host of angels. On this day, the shepherds’ joy turns to grief. The whole of Jerusalem weeps over the murder of the innocent babies. The Messiah is born, yet now it seems that evil has triumphed.
In the Old Testament, the Pharaoh also commanded the killing of male Hebrew children. Moses’ life was spared through a Hebrew woman, and Moses became God’s instrument in liberating the Hebrews from their oppression in Egypt. That event foreshadowed the saving action that Jesus would do for humanity as he saved us from sin and death.
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SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord,” ST PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.