SHOULD BE FOLLOWED

Feast of the Holy Innocents

 

SHoulD BE folloWED

 

“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.” – Matthew 2:16

 

Resistance. Recrimination. Disfavor. All that I met when I chose to serve the Lord as full-time lay worker. And coming from my loved ones, it brought me pain. It came to a point when my only sibling disowned me after I failed to attend his wedding. But all’s well that ends well. Though my family and I are still healing, our relationship has improved.

When Joseph obeyed the angel’s instruction to bring his family to Egypt, he probably never thought that act would bring about the massacre of all infant boys in Bethlehem. He was just obeying the angel’s instruction. When we try to follow the Lord like Joseph did, we would sometimes feel dismayed over what it brings us. Instead of joy, it seems pain and isolation follow our obedience to God. And yet, if we see the example of the Holy Family, we see that their obedience brought about everyone’s salvation.

As the New Year approaches, there will be questions and challenges that will confront us. Many times we won’t know the exact result but uncertainty should not stop us from following the Lord. After all, He’s the One who can see how all things will end.  Joy Sosoban

 

REFLECTION:

“Unless he obeys, a man cannot believe.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

 

Strengthen my weak will, O Lord, and enable me to obey You.

 

 

OutWitting Wickedness

 

There is an interesting James Taylor song, part of which goes, “Steer clear of royal welcomes / Avoid a big to-do / A king who would slaughter the innocents / Will not cut a deal for you / . . . / 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.”

The song refers, of course, to the episode narrated in today’s Gospel. Thanks to a dream, the Magi became wary of King Herod, and they did not cooperate with his crafty schemes to kill the newborn baby Jesus. These wise men eventually turn the tables on Herod (wise indeed they were), through their going “home by another way” (which, by the way, is the title of the song).

But the real focus of today’s commemoration is not really King Herod. He may have been the evil “mastermind” behind the horrific happening. But it is to the credit of those nameless children that in their innocence, they had borne a heroic witness to the Baby Jesus, their own contemporary and peer. Perhaps the Holy Innocents stand for the present-day blameless children who have perished through abortion, starvation, calamities, and war. For them we offer our prayers and sacrifices today in a spirit of supplication and amends.

And perhaps too, the pranks and practical jokes which take place on this Holy Innocents’ Day will serve as symbols to remind us of the moral necessity to defy (indeed, to outwit) the wickedness menacing innocent lives. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

 

Reflection Question:

How do I treat the innocent people, particularly children, around me? How do I defend them from the wickedness of the world?

 

Heavenly Father, we pray for the innocent and blameless children who were victims of abortion, starvation, calamities, accidents and war. May they enjoy Your care and protection that they did not experience here on earth.

 

Holy Innocents, Martyrs, pray for us.