The Octave of Christmas - FEAST OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS - MARTYRS - Gospel (Mt 2:13-18)

FEAST OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS, MARTYRS Gospel (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. The Gospel of the Lord: Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ. The Word of God for Everyone Dear People of God, Today's Word of God speaks about the killing of the innocents. God lets humanity know that God Himself will save those who die in the name of Jesus Christ and will enjoy eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven. During Jesus' time, He had the mission to come to earth to save mankind from the captivity of Satan; therefore, Satan did not leave it alone, so they would find a way to destroy the Son of God. When they could not destroy the Son of God, they sought every way to kill His children. Consequently, the innocent children during Jesus' time were killed by the tyrant Herod; yet, God, who is the King of Kings will grant these children happiness in the Kingdom of Heaven. For He is a God of love; He will never abandon humankind, especially those who die for the holy name of Jesus Christ. Today's Word of God also tells all mankind that the Child Jesus is the plan that God placed in His Son. He was born of the Blessed Virgin Mary and had a foster father, Saint Joseph. It was Blessed Mary and Saint Joseph who raised the Son of God on this earth. They also had to go through difficulties, trials, and persecutions; but they were always kept, and protected by God, and guided by the angels who serve God; everything was within the plan that He had placed in Saint Joseph and Blessed Mother Mary. Satan cannot harm God's plan when it has been arranged by Him. God sent an angel to inform Saint Joseph and Blessed Mother Mary to find a way to escape that place when King Herod sought to kill the Son of God. They listened to the angel's message and followed exactly what God instructed them. Today's Word of God warns all mankind that Satan has entered the world's heart to tempt humans to disobey the will of God the Father, not to fear Him but to worship all kinds of gods: the god of power, the god of glory, the god of honor, the god of lust, the god of freedom, the god of light brought by Lucifer to make humans ignorant and distance ourselves from God's plan of salvation. The merciful God the Father calls on humankind to be vigilant against Satan's temptations, not to give in to them, and not to give in to passions of power, fame, money, and luxury of the world, especially passion of lust for the flesh, which causes death, killing, hatred, jealousy, envy, and competition among humans. In addition, the most horrific sins committed by mankind are the killings of countless fetuses. Now that the time has arrived, God desires all mankind to bow our heads and acknowledge our sin of having listened to Satan's instigation and sin of displeasing God. God waits for us to come to His lonely cave, where He chose to be born as a human in order to touch each soul. Let us come to the Infant Jesus and ask for graces of humility and conversion from the depths of our hearts, and He will grant them to us. We should no longer exclude ourselves from God, we should no longer exclude Him from our families, or our countries, but we should welcome Him into our homes with a heart of repentance, and to be determined to give up sin, to avoid the near occasions of sin Satan brings, and draw closer to the God of Love who is truly present in the Holy Eucharist, through the Holy Masses that are offered every day throughout the world. Thanks be to God. Amen