Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… pretty challenging Mass readings to reflect upon. Today, we read about the darkness of sin and the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under. These are certainly not the most uplifting themes to reflect upon during the season of Christmas. But, in them, with the heart of St. Joseph, we are charged with the mission of the Gospel and awakened by the call of the Lord– a call to rise, to take with us Jesus and Mary, to move, to act, to respond, and to live our discipleship anew.
We often say that St. Joseph was a “just man.” Why? In the most basic biblical sense, justice is to be faithful or loyal to God and, following from that, to be faithful to one another. Pope Benedict XVI said that St. Joseph is “the model of the ‘just’ man, who in perfect sympathy with his spouse, welcomes the Son of God made man and guards over His human growth.” With these words in mind and reflecting on today’s Gospel from Matthew, we are called to live out the mission of God’s justice in the protection of the most innocent and vulnerable- particularly children and the unborn.
Today, the Feast of the Holy Innocents, we unavoidably reminded of the present evil of abortion in our world. Referring to the Holy Innocents, St. Augustine said that "These then, whom Herod's cruelty tore as sucklings from their mothers' bosom, are justly hailed as 'infant martyr flowers'; they were the Church's first blossoms, matured by the frost of persecution during the cold winter of unbelief." Like the martyrdom of the Holy Innocents, abortion remains as a tremendous darkness in our society – a poverty of the warmth of God’s light and justice. In the face of this cold winter, we must hold fast to the promise of Christmas just four days prior – that Jesus Christ, the light of the world of which John speaks, has entered into the darkness of the world and given us the hope of a new springtime. Today’s first reading from 1 John reminds us of the limitless, transforming power of God’s light, who is expiation “not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.”
We all know how challenging it is to return to work, school, and normal life after a long vacation- perhaps a Christmas break or holiday with family. If we’ve fallen into the trap of taking a vacation from our discipleship, the Church reminds us today that the vacation is over and there’s work to be done in a world in need of justice. Perhaps a great first step in our return to the joyful work of Christ is through a rededication of our prayer life. Pope Francis’ General Intention for this month of December is for victimized children.
Let’s join with Pope Francis and pray that children who are victims of abandonment or violence may find the love and protection they need. We also pray for an end to abortion in our world, for mothers suffering the loss caused by an abortion, and an increase in justice, particularly for society’s most vulnerable. In the spirit of St. Joseph, may we be the justice we desire to see and a light to those in darkness. St. Joseph, pray for us. Amen.
Ryan J. Mahle