Bible
Study: 1st John 1, 5 to 2, 2. Matthew 2, 13 to 18.
Today we
celebrate a rather painful episode of the Christmas story; the great massacre
of innocent children by King Herod. Some questions that bother the mind of many
upon reflection on today’s feast is: “Where is God when bad things happen? Was
it the case that God was not aware beforehand that Herod was planning such
evil? How come he did not remove it from Herod’s mind, yet he sent an Angel to
warn Joseph in a dream to flee with Mary and the child at night? How come God
did not also send Angels to warn the fathers of all other babies whom Herod
slaughtered? Was it a crime to have been born almost at the same time at Jesus
in Palestine that year?”
That bad
things happen to good and innocent persons is something that we cannot
completely comprehend. However, nothing should ever make us lose faith in God
or assume he does not care or that he is powerless. God is there, he sees
everything, he knows everything and he has never stopped being God. All he
demands from us especially when things get really rough with us is TRUST. St.
Paul would assure us that all things work unto good for those who love God. Romans 8, 28.
Sometimes a lot of good can still come out from situations we describe as
terrible.
On the
other hand, let us put ourselves in the shoes of Herod. If for instance, you
hear for instance that somebody is coming to take over your position as the
Managing Director of a multi-national company, would you just sit there and fold
your hands? If as a wife, you see that your husband begins to give too much
attention to another lady outside the house, would you do nothing? If you were
told that everything you have worked for and all that your family possesses
which you have inherited would be taken away from you and given to somebody
else, wouldn’t you try to stop it?
At times,
we pray the worst prayers over the people who seem to threaten our position,
our wealth, our children or our precious possessions. Little do we realise that
each time, we are trying to fight our so called “enemy”, each time we send
arrows to them, to prevent them from ever succeeding, we are simply being
Herods. I am sure if you ask Herod, he would tell you, he didn’t do anything
wrong by ordering the death of those innocent children. He would tell you that
he acted in self-defence. He heard a king would be born in his kingdom and he
did all he could to prevent another king rising. He tried to protect what ws
rightfully his.
Dear
friends, haven’t we killed so many innocent people with our lips by speaking
ill of them simply because they were a threat to us? This is why our first
reading this morning from the letter of St. John says: “If we say that we have
no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our
sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from
all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and
his word is not in us.” 1 John 1, 8 to 10.
Today is
not a day to feel hatred for Herod over what he did, neither is it a day to
recount the people who have committed similar atrocities against their fellow
man. Today is a day for us to look inwards and ask ourselves how well we have
fed the Herod that is in us. Today is a day for us to examine ourselves and
recount bad things we may have done to people to the extent that even our
victims had to cry to God to also ask him why he allowed us do such evil things
to them.
Today is a
day for us to examine our fears and ask ourselves what is it that we are trying
to hold on to. That is, what are we afraid of losing for which we are prepared
to kill? Did we bring anything to this life? Are we going to take anything with
us when we die? So why are we so scared of losing the things that we must lose
eventually? Did Herod not eventually die and leave the throne for another
person? Was he thinking that by killing the innocent children, he would reign
for ever? Does he know whether the throne went to his son or someone else?
There is
something about destiny and competition. At times, we engage in very useless
competition with people forgetting that who God has said he will be, he must
be. We try to stop people from outshining us and we waste a lot of time and
energy, we even have sleepless nights just to prevent others from overtaking
us, yet after everything, we cannot stop the will of God from happening. A
little boy you brought up may eventually become your master tomorrow and if
that is how God want it, there is nothing you can do about it. Your driver,
your house-help, that “useless thing” may eventually become your saviour tomorrow
so why being a Herod for nothing.
Let us
Pray: Lord Jesus, teach me to trust you even thing are hard. Amen. In a special
way, I pray for the repose of the twenty two children who died in a ghastly
motor accident on their way to attend my diaconate ordination on December 17,
2011. These were innocent children who wanted to see for the first time how
people are ordained, they did not attend the ceremony physically but were there
in spirit. Have mercy on them and grant them a place in your kingdom O Lord.
Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith.
It is well with you. God bless you and Merry Christmas
Fr. Abu.
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