Feast of the Holy Innocents, December 28, 2006

Scripture: I John 1:5-2:2. Psalm 124. Matthew 2:13-18. Matthew reflects the atmosphere that prevailed during the time of the despot ruler, Herod the Great. Despite his gifts of supplying aqueducts and working on the building of the Temple and the Fortress Masada, this man was cruel. He not only murdered the innocent children in Bethlehem, but also members of his family. He lived with fear and to offset that fear he murdered people. We know that his death is around 4 B.C., thereby, we are told by the scholars that Jesus was born between 4 and 6 B.C. This mistake was due to a calendar miscalculation. Sounds like something I could have done, not being a very good mathematician! In reflecting upon this event of the massacre of the children, I was led to appreciate the gift of life and to reaffirm our Catholic commitment to life in all of its dimensions and stages. Unfortunately, the terrible tradgedy of the abuse of children came to mind. This has hurt our Church and the morale of many of us who are religious minded people in the helping professions. This day can motivate us to pray for the children who have been abused and to ask God to help those who were the abusers. In our first reading we have the inspired writer John telling us that he is concerned for the children and desires that they remain free of sin. The Psalm response corresponds to a plea of protection for the innocent:"Our soul has escaped like a bird from the hunter's nest. " In the account of Matthew we see the prudence of the Magi in returning to their home in another way thus avoiding reporting to Herod where they found the child Jesus with his mother. (Matthew 2:11). They, too, indicate the sacred time in which Jesus was born and how they came from a distant country to worship the newborn King of Israel, Christ the Lord. Matthew again directs us to think about the sorrow of the families that lost their children in Herod's fearful and threatened stance. He cites Jeremiah telling us of Rachel's lamentation for her children but there is no comfort for her, since they are no more." Matthew turns to the Scriptures he knew (the Old Testament) to show the fu