28/12/2019
FEAST OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS.
(Mt. 2:13-18) December 28, 2019
In today’s Gospel the under two year olds who were killed by Herod in his effort to stop the birth of the promised Messiah. The children sacrificed their lives because of the Lord Jesus. Significant was the mention of Rachel weeping for the children as quoted from the prophet Jeremiah. Rachel, the younger between the two wives of Jacob, was not as fruitful as the other wife. Jewish culture looks down on women who were not productive, Rachel was ridiculed a lot. Finally, God heard her cry and she was given Joseph and Benjamin, When she died, she was buried in Ramah which was part of Bethlehem. Rachel wept when during the exile, the tribe of his son Benjamin was badly defeated. The innocent children were massacred in a territory of the tribe of Benjamin, thus, Rachel’s cry was told to being heard again.
The First Reading from John the Evangelist refers to Jesus as the light. In John’s letters, God represents light, good, life, order, truth, etc. Anything without God is darkness, evil, death, lies, etc. Thus, for John, if we are to be followers of God, we walk in the light, live in truth, etc. We cannot live in sin and claim to be believers. Sadly, there are Christians who have this thinking. They believe dualism is still worthy of belonging to the faith. The community of believers may not be perfect but it is not a reason to justify or accept sin without genuine repentance. Our Lord warned us that a ploughman who looks back after putting his hands on the plow is not worthy for the Kingdom of God. We ought to always look ahead, avoid occasions of sin, be like the apostle and the psalmist exhort us:
“Therefore, each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbour, for we are all members of one another. “Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger, and do not give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing good with his own hands, that he may have something to share with the one in need. Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and tender-hearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.’’