Prayer of the Day

Feast of The Holy Innocents, Martyrs

December 28th, 2015

These innocent children were the first to give their lives for Jesus.  One wonders if their parents knew the reason for the massacre of their baby boys.   At that time,  the Angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in his sleep and told him to take the child and his mother and go into the land of Egypt.  The Holy Family are now refugees seeking shelter.  They are fleeing from tyranny and death just like so many people to-day.  How difficult it must have been for the Holy Family to travel to Egypt,  their only mode of transport being a donkey.  One wonders where they sheltered on the way.  Were they able to get food or lodging?   When they did arrive in Egypt could Joseph find work as a carpenter?   Sacred Scripture doesn’t supply any details.  However,  there they lived in exile till they heard of the death of Herod.  Once again that message was conveyed by an Angel to Joseph.  He was told to return to the land of Israel;  “for they were dead who were seeking the life of the child.”   As Herod’s son was ruling in Judea,  the Holy Family went to Nazareth.  Thus the words of the prophet were fulfilled; “He shall be called a Nazarene.”