Holy Innocents (Year C)

I Jn 1: 5-2:2; Ps 124:2-3, 4-5, 7cd-8.

Mt 2: 13-28.

Theme:  Are you also an Innocent in the sight of God?

 

King did not have child. He went to Mantrik to seek for solution. Mantrik told him to search for a baby to sacrifice. When child was found to be sacrificed, he was asked if he has any last wish. Child asked for a handful of sand. He made 3 heap of sand. He destroyed two of heap in front of King except the last one. He was asked what he was doing. He said first and second heap represent the Parent and Him (King). The Third was for the Lord. King spared him from sacrificing because he had faith in the Lord.

Today, we celebrate the feast of holy innocents. It is the day reminds us of the massacre of children who were two and under two years of age. These children very innocents. They indeed got the special place in the house of the Lord because they died for the Lord. They always remain close to the Lord always. These innocent victims were the flowers and first-fruits of the Savior’s legions of martyrs; they triumphed over the world without having ever known it or experienced its dangers.

 Let us see what is happening and the reasons why King Herod killed them?

1.   Treat to His (Herod) throne (Power)

Who do not like power in the material world? More how many times have heard of assassination story in regarding to political power. It is not new thing but how is it applicable to us? One or other way in our life, let it be priest or brothers, we hold responsibility. Do we get so attached to it? Do we find difficulty to Passover the responsibility to next person who come? Do we see as treat to one’s own responsibility if someone tries to comment for improvement?

2.   Jealous

The King is filled with jealousy because New-born King is born. He feels that people are going to adore or pay homage to the new born king. All the attention is going to new king and King Herod cannot bear it. Are we sometimes become jealous of someone’s progress?

3.   Insecure/Fear

Another element which is present in king is fear. King is fear of the losing his power. It shows his low self-esteem. He is finding difficulty to face the reality. Insecurity cause him the fear. It shows its lack of trust in the Divine Providence. What are our fears and insecurities?

4.   Furious/ Anger

Herod becomes furious because he knows that his autonomy does not work anymore. He thought that his ideas and views are going to be challenge by the New-born-king in fact the wise men did not follow his instruction to inform him when they find the new born king.

5.   Misuse of Free-Will:

First of all Life is gift from God. Man has no right to take away the life. If it is a gift from God how come God allowed death of these innocents? God respects the freewill of the each one of us. In fact, God intervened save the child. He sent the Holy Family to Egypt. But Herod misused his free-will which was given by God. At the end of the day or our life, we will be held accountable to how this freewill is being used. How many time we suppress this freewill just to satisfy our physical needs. How many time do we become the so selfish without standing for the right of the innocent? How many times we become indifference to the truth.

On this feast of Holy innocents, let us pray for the children who are millions in number as they are victims of mass massacre. They have been aborted and killed just because they are innocent. Their dignity has been degraded by many kinds of violence and abuses like abortion, child labour and child pornography.

1st reading reminds us that “God is light and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. Jesus has reserved a precious place for children in His heart. We need to remember when disciples chase them away but Jesus welcome them in Mt 18:3-6 by saying “Amen, I say to you unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea,”