Matthew 2:13-18

Lectio (Reading)

Read the passage twice and get a sense of what it is saying. Pay attention to what strikes you.

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.

Meditatio (Reflecting)

Slowly read the passage again, pausing on words or phrases that stands out. Take time to consider the meaning. particularly in your life.

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.”

Oratio (Responding)

Read the passage again, slowly. Consider how God has spoken to you and respond back to Him. You may want to consider how this passage is asking you to act differently.

This day marks the death of the holy innocents. An unthinkable act of brutality against the most innocent an helpless of us all… Babies.

After being decieved by the Magi, and in a futile and capricous attempt to destroy Jesus, Herod commanded that all boys in Egypt under the age of 2 years old, be murdered. Why was Herod afraid of the child Jesus? Because the Herods were all usurpers. The Herods had no legitimate claim to the throne of David, They were not of the tribe of Levi, and they were not even of jewish decent. They only controlled the throne because it was given to them from the Romans, and the Romans only gave it to them, because their lust and greed for power, made them controllable.

The true sons of david were in hiding because they could not be controlled by the Romans, because the true sons of David were only loyal God in Heaven. As a result the Heir of David was a threat to both the Herods and the Romans, and as such, they were hunted by the Romans. So despite the fact that the Herods were installed as stooges of Rome, the Herod’s grasp on the seat of power was very weak and fragile. Thus the Baby Jesus stood as a direct threat not only to the Romans, but also as an irrefutable challenge to the kingship of Herod. If Herod did not destroy this challenge, Herod would either be unseated by Jesus, and ultimately stoned by the jews for his crimes, or unseated by the Romans, and ultimately killed for allowing the Davidic Heir to rise. Herod’s response then, while savage and egregious, was actually the only thing he could to to save his own skin.

But there is a message in this gospel for us as well. Herod was obsessed with the trappings of power and wealth, and as such he was a slave to them. He was forced to do the worst things possible in order to maintain the status quo. We must strive in our lives to avoid this kind of slavery. Herod used people and loved things, we must strive to love people and use things. And only use those things to the extent that they further glorify God.

Let us pray today, for those holy innocents, and the many innocent souls, even today, that are snuffed out for the sake of convenience and fear. We pray that the adults that perpetrate these atrocities seek forgiveness, and make reparations for their sins. And for the lost souls…, that God has a plan for helping them make it to heaven. Amen.

Contemplatio (Contemplating)

Take time to simply remain in the presence of God.

Resolutio (Resolving)

Make a resolution that will improve your life, your relationships, or your faith. Make it small and attainable, and do it.

Oh lord, help me today to help more people come to understand and love the gift of life, and the work to protect it at every stage of life. Amen.