MY daily reflection and prayer:
Monday, December 28, 2015
Feast of Innocent Children, The Honestly First Martyrs for Jesus
Dear my friends,
Here is the Gospel for us today according to St. Matthew 2:13-18
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt have I called my son.” Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they were no more.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ
***
Today is feast of innocent children, the honesyly first martyrs for Jesus the Child. They who died on Jesus Christ’s behalf are surely the first martyrs for Jesus Christ. In fact, Herod’s massacre of children is intended to Jesus the Child. But he couldn’t find him. So Herod killed all innocent children at the time of Jesus the Child.
We may ask why couldn’t God prevent this slaughter? But no body can explain suffering and martyrdom, especially the suffering of innocent children because suffering or martyrdom is indeed a mystery. No explanation seems to satisfy our human craving to understand.
In the Perpetual Adoration of the Eucharist we worship Jesus Christ who had suffered and died for us. He gives each of us a supernatural joy which enables us to bear any suffering and martyrdom.
Let’s pray: Lord Jesus Christ, suffering and martyrdom are the lot of all who chose to follow you faithfully. Based on the faith that it’s through your suffering and death on a cross, so our salvation is won; we believe there is no crown without the cross. Your suffering and death has won eternal life for us. Give us a supernatural joy which enables us to bear our suffering and martyrdom now and forever. Amen.
Kredit foto: Ilustrasi (Ist)
