stay there until I tell you, for Herod will soon be looking for the child in order to kill him.” Joseph
got up, took the child and his mother, and left that night for Egypt, where he stayed until the
death of Herod. In this way, what the Lord had said through the prophet was fulfilled: I called
my son out of Egypt.
When Herod found out that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was furious. He gave
orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its neighborhood who were two years old or
under. This was done, according to what he had learned from the wise men about the
time when the star appeared.
In this way, what the prophet Jeremiah had said was fulfilled: A cry is heard in Ramah,
wailing and loud lamentation: Rachel weeps for her children. She refuses to be comforted,
for they are no more.
Reflect
Once again sadness and pain intrude on our Christmas joy. We who three short days ago
rejoiced over the birth of a baby now mourn the countless children sacrificed to Herod’s
anger and greed. We share the pain of their parents whose precious babies were taken
away and killed for reasons they could not comprehend.
We cannot deny the presence of darkness and sin in our world. Too many parents suffer
the loss of infants before or shortly after birth. In many places, the years of childhood are
filled with hunger and disease. Later, violence. poverty, and abuse threaten children’s
well-being. All too often, these children are put at risk because of our hate, greed, and
indifference. So focused on our own desires, we disregard our vulnerable brothers and
sisters and treat them as though they are disposable and of little value. In memory of the
Holy Innocents, may we rededicate ourselves to efforts to protect the children in our world.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2023