Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs

“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.

Most of us can hardly imagine what it would be like to have to flee our homes in fear of our lives, nor can we fully comprehend the sacrifices Joseph and Mary made in order to be the parents of Christ. Being a holy family for them was full of self-sacrifices. Joseph gave up his pride in order to take Mary as he wife in spite of her being pregnant. He also gave up his home to flee to Egypt where he had no contacts, no prospects of work, and no common language. So too, Mary gave up being close to her family and ultimately would see her beloved son scourged and crucified. Whenever we are tempted to complain about our lot in life or start to take for granted what we have, we should remember that Mary and Joseph suffered much more than we can imagine and though they might not have understood the reasons, they did accept that their trials were for God’s greater glory. Perhaps we should follow in their examples and be willing to trust God’s plan for us and whatever sorrows might come to us for the greater good.

Are we as trusting of God as we should be? How can we become more like Mary and Joseph when it comes to doing God’s Will? Are we willing to go wherever God leads us and do whatever He wants us to do?

O Lord, you called us, help us to rise up and do your will.

Amen.