Commentary
Monday, 12/28/2020, Feast of the Holy Innocents
Creator—Advocate—Savior
First Reading Commentary: 1 John 1:5-2:2
Today’s first reading from John causes us to look within at our sins. We can admit to our sins or we can deny our sins and say that we are without sin. John is telling us that it does not matter how much we proclaim our faith in Christ, if we are with sin, we walk in darkness and tell a lie.
Why is this message important to consider on the Feast of the Holy Innocents? These were innocent children, some of them even newborn infants, who were put to death by King Herod because of his fear of the newborn king, who according to prophecy, was the king of Kings. Herod was afraid that this newborn king would take away his kingship and so Herod ordered the death of all boys up to 2 years old.
What sins could these young children have committed? What is it that would justify their execution? The answer is absolutely nothing! So again, why do we consider this reading today?
There are two reasons that come to my mind. 1- These innocent boys all died in the place of Jesus. Some of them were too young to even know that they were being executed and those who were old enough to know that they were being put to death did not understand why. But their lives were being sacrificed for Jesus just as Jesus sacrificed His own innocent life for us.
2- We are all born in a state of sin because of original sin. So, no matter how hard we try to live a good life, respecting others always committing ourselves to doing what is right, we are still with sin if we have not had our sins washed away in baptism. Those who do not believe in baptism are living in serious darkness because the truth is not within them.
To deny our sinfulness is to deny the truth which is associated with the guilt of having committed sins. If we deny that truth, we deny the Truth which is Christ. If we deny the Truth of Christ, we deny Christ Himself and if we deny Christ, we cannot and will not be with Him in heaven. We deny ourselves of eternal happiness because our entire life is a lie.
John gives us this message so that we might not sin but if we do sin, John wants us to know that we have an Advocate in Jesus Christ. Thinking of Jesus Christ as the Advocate causes me to consider two things. 1- the way to the Father is through the Son who is our mediatrix to the Father. 2- We know the Holy Spirit as the Advocate because He is the conscience inside of us always trying to get us to do what is right. Therefore, John is reminding us in a subtle way that our God is the Trinity—three persons—One God.
Sin is the deliberate choice to do what we know is wrong. But God—our Creator loves us so much and wants so much for us to be with Him in Heaven, that He willingly chooses to be our Advocate. But not just any advocate. God in the person of the Son as our Advocate, stood trial for us, accepted being executed on the cross and then by His Glorious Resurrection, became our Savior.
We can think about the Holy Innocents and feel troubled by what happened to them because it was so unfair and unjustified. But that is the way of the world and the chaos of the day is a testimonial to that fact.
But fortunately for our sake, God’s way is much different. God’s way is a way of peace, joy and happiness. So, today, because of their martyrdom, we celebrate the salvation of the Holy Innocents in hopeful anticipation that we too will be saved.
God Is Always Way Ahead of the Bad Guys
Gospel Commentary: Matthew 2:13-18
If it were not for an angel appearing to Joseph in a dream, Jesus would have been executed by Herod for he would have been one of the boy children two years old or less. But God’s plan was not to be derailed and Joseph was the father of Jesus on earth, promised and chosen by God. The genealogy of Jesus is testimony to this fact.
The angel told Joseph to take Jesus to Egypt. The Gospel tells us that Egypt was chosen to fulfill the Scripture, “Out of Egypt I called my Son.” Matthew 2:15 The Scripture comes from the prophet Hosea which says, “When Israel was a child I loved him, out of Egypt I called my son.” Hosea 11:1
It is important to know this prophecy because it refers to the exodus of the Israelites with Moses, leading the way, under the direction of the LORD, out of Egypt to Jerusalem. Jesus relives this Scripture by being called out of Egypt by the Father and then by leading us on our exodus out of this life to the New Jerusalem which is heaven.
Herod had told the Magi to report back to him so that he too could go pay homage to the newborn king. But Herod was being deceitful, so God had the Magi return to their homeland by a different way.
Matthew tells us that Herod became furious because he had been deceived by the Magi. So, he thought. Truth is, no one at no time can out-wit God and by trying to deceive the Magi, Herod was trying to deceive God.
One of the ways that I always knew that my mother had her mind made up and that there would be no changing it and there would be no such thing as things going a different way would be to hear her say, “You just as well put that idea out your head.” I say that to say this, if you plan to deceive, out-wit, or otherwise try to get one up on God, let me give you some advice. You just as well put that idea out your head.
The sobbing and lamentations in Ramah as foretold by the prophet Jeremiah as Rachel wept for her children is for those who are foolish enough to attempt to deceive God. The prophecy says that she could not be consoled because her children were no more. Jeremiah 31:15
If one tries to get over on God, that person is trying to be better than God. The evil one tried to do that and it did not work out well for him. He will be in heaven no more! Anyone who chooses to follow the path of thinking that they can out smart God will end up just like the evil one which means that their chances of being in heaven will be no more!
