December 28, 2020Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs
2020년 12월 28일 죄 없는 아기 순교자들 축일
오늘의 복음 : http://info.catholic.or.kr/missa/default.asp
제1독서
요한 1서. 1,5ㅡ2,2
사랑하는 여러분, 우리가 예수 그리스도에게서 5 듣고
이제 여러분에게 전하는 말씀은 이것입니다.
곧 하느님은 빛이시며 그분께는 어둠이 전혀 없다는 것입니다.
6 만일 우리가 하느님과 친교를 나눈다고 말하면서 어둠 속에서 살아간다면,
우리는 거짓말을 하는 것이고 진리를 실천하지 않는 것입니다.
7 그러나 그분께서 빛 속에 계신 것처럼 우리도 빛 속에서 살아가면,
우리는 서로 친교를 나누게 되고,
그분의 아드님이신 예수님의 피가
우리를 모든 죄에서 깨끗하게 해 줍니다.
8 만일 우리가 죄 없다고 말한다면,
우리는 자신을 속이는 것이고 우리 안에 진리가 없는 것입니다.
9 우리가 우리 죄를 고백하면,
그분은 성실하시고 의로우신 분이시므로
우리의 죄를 용서하시고 우리를 모든 불의에서 깨끗하게 해 주십니다.
10 만일 우리가 죄를 짓지 않았다고 말한다면,
우리는 그분을 거짓말쟁이로 만드는 것이고
우리 안에 그분의 말씀이 없는 것입니다.
2,1 나의 자녀 여러분, 내가 여러분에게 이 글을 쓰는 까닭은
여러분이 죄를 짓지 않게 하려는 것입니다.
그러나 누가 죄를 짓더라도 하느님 앞에서
우리를 변호해 주시는 분이 계십니다.
곧 의로우신 예수 그리스도이십니다.
2 그분은 우리 죄를 위한 속죄 제물이십니다.
우리 죄만이 아니라 온 세상의 죄를 위한 속죄 제물이십니다.
복음
마태오. 2,13-18
13 박사들이 돌아간 뒤,
꿈에 주님의 천사가 요셉에게 나타나서 말하였다.
“일어나 아기와 그 어머니를 데리고 이집트로 피신하여,
내가 너에게 일러 줄 때까지 거기에 있어라.
헤로데가 아기를 찾아 없애 버리려고 한다.”
14 요셉은 일어나 밤에 아기와 그 어머니를 데리고 이집트로 가서,
15 헤로데가 죽을 때까지 거기에 있었다.
주님께서 예언자를 통하여,
“내가 내 아들을 이집트에서 불러내었다.”
하신 말씀이 이루어지려고 그리된 것이다.
16 그때에 헤로데는 박사들에게 속은 것을 알고 크게 화를 내었다.
그리고 사람들을 보내어, 박사들에게서 정확히 알아낸 시간을 기준으로,
베들레헴과 그 온 일대에 사는 두 살 이하의 사내아이들을 모조리 죽여 버렸다.
17 그리하여 예레미야 예언자를 통하여 하신 말씀이 이루어졌다.
18 “라마에서 소리가 들린다. 울음소리와 애끊는 통곡 소리.
라헬이 자식들을 잃고 운다. 자식들이 없으니 위로도 마다한다.”
December 28, 2020
Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs
Daily Mass : http://www.catholictv.com/shows/daily-mass
Reading 1
1 Jn 1:5-2:2
This is the message that we have heard from Jesus Christ
and proclaim to you:
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.
If we say, "We are without sin,"
we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just
and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.
If we say, "We have not sinned," we make him a liar,
and his word is not in us.
My children, I am writing this to you
so that you may not commit sin.
But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous one.
He is expiation for our sins,
and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 124:2-3, 4-5, 7cd-8
Had not the LORD been with us?
When men rose up against us,
then would they have swallowed us alive,
When their fury was inflamed against us.
R. Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler's snare.
Then would the waters have overwhelmed us;
The torrent would have swept over us;
over us then would have swept the raging waters.
R. Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler's snare.
Broken was the snare,
and we were freed.
Our help is in the name of the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
R. Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler's snare.
Gospel
Mt 2:13-18
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.
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.
When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi,
he became furious.
He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity
two years old and under,
in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi.
Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet:
A voice was heard in Ramah,
sobbing and loud lamentation;
Rachel weeping for her children,
and she would not be consoled,
since they were no more
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
The passage from John’s first letter considers sin and contrition. The psalm, which uses the image of a bird rescued from a snare, serves as reminder of past deliverance and hope for the future. The Gospel recounts the story of the massacre of infant boys in an effort to eliminate the young Jesus.
In the Gospel, Jesus was rescued from Herod’s “snare.” Still, this left Jesus, Mary and Joseph as refugees in Egypt. I can imagine the eventual migration of Jesus’ family to Nazareth being a sort of new Exodus from Egypt. Growing up in the United States, I had always pictured the Holy Family as a sort of “Pilgrim people” out of a romanticized sense of American history. It was not until recent years that my image changed to embrace seeing the Holy Family as migrant refugees. (At the same time my image of the Pilgrims began to include their hardships as migrant refugees.)
My wife and I rode out the first wave of the pandemic choosing to isolate with our oldest son, his wife and their twin 2-year-olds. This time served as a reminder of the fragility of our existence and the concern for the health and safety of young children.
The Holy Innocents prompt me to think back to my first years in Catholic grade school. These were the years of my First Confession and First Communion. Given my understanding of sin and martyrdom at that time, I would imagine how wonderful it would be if I were a martyr. It looked like a real shortcut to heaven. With time my understanding of sin, death and heaven would all change profoundly.
Of the readings today, it was John’s Epistle that really struck a chord with me. Being mostly retired, I have had time to reflect back on my life. I realized how difficult a person I was starting in my early childhood. I feel that the gift of God’s forgiveness involves first recognizing that a problem exists, and that I am its source. I reflect back on how many times I caused people hurt and suffering not realizing that much of the problem was me (rather than them). Perhaps this sin was pride in its worst form, self-justification. These days instead of focusing on thoughts of rewards or punishments (heaven or hell), I see sin as that which separates me from my God and my community.
By chance in a recent sermon, I was redirected to the book God of Surprises written 35 years ago by Gerald Hughs, SJ, a book which I had started and then left on my shelf for months. In the chapter titled Changing Direction, he presents views of sin and repentance that I feel have enduring relevance. He parallels the warnings of today’s Epistle. He concludes the chapter contrasting the marks of true and false repentance. I base my prayer today on some of these insights.
Dear Lord,
Unshackle me from the false security of the defenses that I build around myself.
Give me the openness to trust in God’s goodness.
Grant me the courage to acknowledge my shortcomings and avoid judging others.
Allow me to welcome criticism and learn from it.
Help me to feel drawn to God, rather than feeling driven by God.
Free me from rigidity of mind and heart.
http://www.presentationministries.com/obob/obob.asp
INNOCENCE OF THE INNOCENTS
“A cry was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation: Rachel bewailing her children; no comfort for her, since they are no more.” ––Matthew 2:18
As I sit writing, a glorious spring day beckons from outside my window. Earlier, a cardinal pierced the sun-drenched day with his distinctive song. New life is in the air. This scene contrasts starkly with today’s winter feast day honoring the Holy Innocents. We just celebrated the glorious Nativity. God became man in the Incarnation (Jn 1:14). Now jolted by cruelty and suffering perpetrated against baby boys, despair may be our natural response. King Herod’s barbarism and self-centeredness rightly appall us (see Mt 2:16).
Although difficult to understand, God intends to bring out of this tragedy a greater good. In His infinite wisdom, all will receive their just recompense. Jesus never promised anyone a life free from sorrow. On the contrary, He promised persecution; but for the righteously persecuted “the reign of God is theirs” (Mt 5:10).
What will be our anchor throughout the sorrow? Lean on the Lord! “I tell you all this that in Me you may find peace. You will suffer in the world. But take courage! I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:33).
Do we accept God’s divine will, even when our humanity can’t see the wisdom? And how do we tap into these promises of Jesus? Holy Mother Church provides the structure for us. Practice your faith; receive the sacraments. “Fear is useless. What is needed is trust” (Mk 5:36).
Prayer: Father, help me live my faith vigorously during the remaining days of the Christmas season.
Promise: “Here, then, is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: that God is light; in Him there is no darkness.” ––1 Jn 1:5
Praise: The Church has honored the Holy Innocents as martyrs since antiquity.
http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/readings/
Who can explain suffering, especially the suffering of innocent children? Herod's massacre of children who gave their lives for a person and a truth they did not know seemed so useless and unjust. What a scandal and stumbling block for those who can't recognize God's redeeming love. Why couldn't God prevent this slaughter? Suffering is indeed a mystery. No explanation seems to satisfy our human craving to understand.
First martyrs for Christ
These innocent children who died on Christ's behalf are the first martyrs for Christ. Suffering, persecution, and martyrdom are the lot of all who chose to follow Jesus Christ. There is no crown without the cross. It was through Jesus' suffering, humiliation, and death on a cross, that our salvation was won. His death won life - eternal life for us. And his blood which was shed for our sake obtained pardon and reconciliation with our heavenly Father.
Suffering can take many forms - illness, disease, handicap, physical pain and emotional trauma, slander, abuse, poverty, and injustice. Paul the Apostle states: We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called to his purpose (Romans 8:28)? Jesus exclaimed that those who weep, who are reviled and persecuted for righteousness sake are blessed (Matthew 5:10-12). The word blessed [makarios in the Greek] literally means happiness or beatitude. It describes a kind of joy which is serene and untouchable, self-contained and independent from chance and changing circumstances of life.
Supernatural joy in the face of suffering
There is a certain paradox for those blessed by the Lord. Mary was given the blessedness of being the mother of the Son of God. That blessedness also would become a sword which pierced her heart as her Son died upon the cross. She received both a crown of joy and a cross of sorrow. But her joy was not diminished by her sorrow because it was fueled by her faith, hope, and trust in God and his promises. Jesus promised his disciples that "no one will take your joy from you" (John 16:22).
The Lord gives each of us a supernatural joy which enables us to bear any sorrow or pain and which neither life nor death can take way. Do you know the joy of a life fully given over to God with faith and trust?
Lord Jesus, you gave your life for my sake, to redeem me from slavery to sin and death. Help me to carry my cross with joy that I may willingly do your will and not shrink back out of fear or cowardice when trouble besets me.
Psalm 124
1 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, let Israel now say-
2 if it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us,
3 then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us;
4 then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us;
5 then over us would have gone the raging waters.
6 Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us as prey to their teeth!
7 We have escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped!
8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: The first martyrs of Christ, by Chromatius (died 406 AD)
"In Bethlehem therefore all the babies were slain. These innocents who died then on Christ's behalf became the first martyrs of Christ. David refers to them when he says, 'From the mouths of nursing babies you have perfected praise because of your enemies, that you might bring ruin to the enemy' (Psalm 8:2). ... For in this persecution even tiny infants and nursing babies were killed on Christ's behalf and attained to the consummate praise of martyrs. Meanwhile the wicked king Herod was destroyed, he who had usurped the realm to defend himself against the king of the heavens. Thus it is that those blessed babes have deservedly lasted beyond others. They were the first who were worthy to die on Christ's behalf."(excerpt from TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 6.2) [Note: Chromatius was an early Christian scholar and bishop of Aquileia, Italy. He was a close friend of John Chrysostom and Jerome. He died in 406 AD. Jerome describead him as a "most learned and most holy man."]
More Homilies
