REFLECTIONS TODAY
Matthew interprets the flight to Egypt and the succeeding massacre of the infants of Bethlehem with two prophetic oracles.
The first — “Out of Egypt I called my son” (Hos 11:1) — recalls Israel, God’s son, being called out of Egypt at the time of the exodus. Jesus, God’s only-begotten Son, is similarly called out of Egypt to bring a new exodus, leading his people out of the slavery of sin.
The second oracle is about Rachel weeping for her children taken into exile at the time of the Assyrian invasion and at another threat of Babylonian invasion (Jer 31:15). It points to the anguish of the “new Rachels” in Bethlehem as their infants are massacred at the order of King Herod who would not tolerate any challenge to his throne. Herod would even execute his two grown sons because of his suspicion.
On the feast of The Holy Innocents in 2016, Pope Francis wrote to the bishops to exhort them to protect the childlike joy of Christmas and those who embody it: the innocent children in our midst. He pointed to the grief and tragedy that surrounds even the wondrous birth of the Savior and spoke of the continuation of this grief today:
“To contemplate the manger also means to contemplate this cry of pain, to open our eyes and ears to what is going on around us, and to let our hearts be attentive and open to the pain of our neighbors, especially where children are involved.”
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: “366 Days with the Lord 2024,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.