GOSPEL

Herod ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem. Reading from the holy Gospel according to Saint 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.

Word of the Lord.

New “Herods”.

Today we celebrate the day of the Holy Innocents. Today we learn that holiness is a gift from God and does not depend on our “merits,” although we should be ashamed every time we speak of them. These children are reigning with the Father, and we could say that they have done nothing to deserve it. They suffered martyrdom, but it was against their will and they could not prevent it. The fact is that they have already participated in the death of Jesus and now participate in His resurrection by pure Divine Grace.

But in the end, God is God of everything and everyone. That defenseless Child Jesus is saved, because God saves him, thanks to Saint Joseph, His Custodian, who protects him by doing what He dictates. Let us do the same with our children, whatever God tells us to do.

Applied to Married Life:

Ramón: How are you, Marta. I haven’t seen you in a long time. Are you not coming here anymore?

Marta: No, we changed the children’s school.

Ramón: And why is that?

Carlos: We didn’t like the environment or the education they were receiving. Even though it was a religious school, Eucharistic celebrations were not frequent, nor were there acts of penitence… and what was taught was not in full communion with the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I want my son to be happy, and I know that he will only be so if he follows the path of truth. So, if they are showing him a somewhat misguided path, I will do whatever it takes to ensure that my son is saved. Then come the disappointments and tears, as has happened to my neighbors when their oldest daughter came in the door with a suitcase and two small children, because she can’t stand her husband anymore and is separating. Poor neighbors, poor daughter, and poor children. They have a rough road ahead. We are praying a lot for them and trying to redirect the situation, because they have no idea how to love or what marriage is.

Ramón: Hey, but going back to the school, what you’re telling me is very interesting. Please, tell me, tell me about the details you discovered about the education at our school and also tell me about the school you are taking them to now…

 

Mother,

The new “Herods” are killing the consciences of children, distorting God’s law. They want to show a god that is not God and a love that is not Love. Mother, we are willing to do everything for the salvation of our family and our children. Praise be to the One who is the Truth. Amen.