God
is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say, “We have
fellowship with him,” while we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do
not act in truth. But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, then we
have fellowship with one another, and the Blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us
from all sin. 1 John 1:5B-7
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. Matthew 2:13-14
Piety
Today the Church remembers the innocent
children slain by Herod in his attempt to kill Jesus, the newborn king.
Let us pray for all innocent children who are victims of gun violence, war,
abuse, and neglect throughout the world today.
Study
Protection.
Watching over has been a constant theme of our liturgy and study since Advent began. We watched over the dark days and long nights and weeks with candles
burning until the Savior emerged to walk with us. Now teh Lord is entrusted to the care of others -- principally to Mary and
Joseph. They get a big assistance at the holy
day care center from angels who announced the pending news. Even after birth, the angels assisted in the
protection of Jesus with today’s warning.
In spite of his initial doubts about the first
message of the angel, Joseph is clearly now walking in the light of truth. A change has come over Joseph, not just
fatherhood, but faith. This time, after the message from the angel comes to
Joseph in a dream, he wakes up the very next day and prepares for the journey
to Egypt – leaving, we assume, the next night. Even though they were travelling
under cover of literal darkness, the Holy Family was walking in the light.
The notes in the NAB explain that “Egypt was
a traditional place of refuge for those fleeing from danger in Palestine. When Solomon tried to have
Jeroboam killed, Jeroboam fled to Shishak, king of Egypt. He remained in Egypt
until Solomon’s death (1 Kings 11:40). When King Jehoiakim and all
his officers and princes heard [Uriah’s] words, the king sought to have him
killed. But Uriah heard of it and fled in fear to Egypt (Jeremiah 26:21). However, the main reason why Jesus is taken
to Egypt is that he may relive the Exodus experience of Israel.”[i] The angel will appear to Joseph one more time
to notify him that the coast is clear and they can return to Israel fulfilling the
prophecy of the new Exodus.
Action
Whose protection is in your hands? Children certainly. Now increasingly, families also have
responsibility to care for aging parents, grandparents are raising
grandchildren, spouses caring for an ill husband or wife, and foster parents
are raising children who have no parents.
Our responsibility for care extends to the
whole planet as explained by Pope Francis in his encyclical letter LAUDATO
SI’ (“On Care for Our
Common Home”).
The USCCB site reminds us that as we put away
our Christmas gifts, think about giving away things that we do not use anymore
and adopting a “simple living”
mindset for the new year! For inspiration, reflect on these words from
Pope Francis:
True joy does not
come from things or from possessing, no! It is born from the encounter, from
the relationship with others, it is born from feeling accepted, understood and
loved, and from accepting, from understanding and from loving; and this is not
because of a passing fancy but because the other is a person. Joy is born from
the gratuitousness of an encounter! It is hearing someone say, but not
necessarily with words: “You are important to me”. This is beautiful.... And it
is these very words that God makes us understand. In calling you God says to
you: “You are important to me, I love you, I am counting on you”. — Pope
Francis, Address at Meetings with
Seminarians and Novices (7/6/13)
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