REFLECTIONS TODAY
Herod was a bloody despot who ordered the killing of his own sons at a mere suspicion of wanting his throne. Emperor Caesar Augustus remarked that it was better to be Herod’s pigs [animals he would not touch because these were considered “unclean” by the Jews] than his own sons. The massacre of the male children in Bethlehem and its vicinity is in consonance with his evil character. Matthew connects this tragic incident to the two major tragedies in Israel’s history: Pharaoh’s slaughter of the male infants of the Hebrews in Egypt and the exile of the tribes to Assyria and Babylon.
Bethlehem is also the place where Rachel symbolically wept over her children, even in her tomb (Jer 31:15). The children of Israel suffer persecution once more in the person of Jesus and the infants. Rachel’s weeping is still being heard today because of the violence done to the children and the innocent.
Weeping is not just a sign of sorrow but is also an expression of mercy and compassion. Pope Francis asks if those who have a reasonable comfortable life know how to weep. He says that we have to ask this question: “Can I weep? Can I weep when I see a child who is starving, on drugs or on the street, homeless, abandoned, mistreated or exploited as a slave by society?” (Christus Vivit, 76).
First Reading • 1 John 1:5—2:2
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. If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” while we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do not act in truth. 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.
If we say, “We are without sin,” we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing. If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
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. He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.
Gospel • Matthew 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.
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2023,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.