Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Ngày 28 thánh 12.. Lễ các thánh Anh hài
Qua bài Tin Mừng, chúng ta có thể tự hỏi là làm thế nào mà những vụ giết hại các trẻ sơ sinh nam vô tội ở Bethlehem phù hợp với những niềm vui của mùa Giáng sinh. Sự kiện tàn ác này của Hêrôdê đã gây ra biết bao nhiêu đau khổ và nước mắt cho cha mẹ của những trẻ sơ sinh tử đạo. Theo các lệnh của vua Hêrôdê bắt những trẻ sơ sinh nam, vô tội và không thể tự vệ, phải chết. Những tiếng kêu la được nghe ở Ra-ma; những than thở và khóc lóc đã thành tiếng. Bà Rachel khóc lóc thảm thiết vì con của bà đà bị hêrôđê giết. Bà từ chối những sự an ủi của mọi người, vì con trai của bà không còn nữa.
Reflection Holy
Innocents
We may wonder how the massacre of the innocent male infants in Bethlehem fits in with the joy of the Christmas season. The event must have caused great suffering and anguish for the parents of the martyred babies. At the order of evil King Herod these male infants, innocent and defenseless, were killed: A cry is heard in Ramah; wailing and loud lamentation: Rachel weeps for her children. She refuses to be comfoted, for they are no more.
We pray with the Church: "O God, whom the Holy Innocents confessed and proclaimed on this day, not by speaking but by dying, grant that the faith in you we confess with our lips may also speak through our manner of life." (Collect at Mass, Feast of the Holy Innocents)
Let us pray for children and that we be graced to become like them: "I assure you that unless you change and become like little children, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes lowly like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and whoever received such a child in my name receives me." (Mt 18: 3–5) Let us pray for all victims of injustice and violence, especially involving children as we see in present-day wars and armed conflicts in the world. Let us especially pray for victims of injustice and violence against those still unborn.
Dec 28- Holy Innocents
2022
Feast of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs - Fourth Day of the Octave of Christmas, December 28
When the magi had departed, behold, 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.” Matthew 2:13
The most glorious event ever to take place in our world also filled some with hatred and rage. Herod, who was jealous of his own earthly power, felt greatly threatened by the message shared with him by the Magi. And when the Magi failed to return to Herod to tell him where the Newborn King was located, Herod did the unthinkable. He ordered the slaughter of every boy, two years old and younger, who was in Bethlehem and its vicinity.
Such an act is hard to comprehend. How could the soldiers carry out such an evil plot? Imagine the deep mourning and devastation so many families encountered as a result. How could a civil ruler murder so many innocent children.
Of course, in our day and age, so many civil leaders continue to support the barbaric practice of permitting the slaughter of the innocent within the womb. Thus, in many ways, Herod’s action is not that different from today.
The passage above reveals to us the will of the Father regarding not only the protection of His divine Son but also His divine will for the protection and sanctity of all human life. It was satan who inspired Herod to kill those precious and innocent children so long ago, and it is satan who continues to promote a culture of death and destruction today. What should our response be? We, like Saint Joseph, must see it as our solemn duty to protect the most innocent and vulnerable with unwavering determination. Though this newborn Child was God, and though the Father in Heaven could have protected His Son with a myriad of angels, it was the Father’s will that a man, Saint Joseph, protect His Son. For that reason, we should also hear the Father calling each and every one of us to do all we can to protect the innocent and most vulnerable, especially the child within the womb.
Reflect, today, upon the will of God for your life. In what ways is God calling you to be like Saint Joseph and protect the most innocent and most vulnerable? How are you being called to be a guardian of those entrusted to your care? Certainly on a civil level we must all work to protect the lives of those who are unborn. But every parent, grandparent and all those entrusted with responsibility for another must strive to protect those in their care in countless other ways. We must diligently work to preserve them from the evils in our world and the numerous attacks of the evil one on their lives. Ponder this question today and allow the Lord to speak to you of your duty to imitate the great protector, Saint Joseph.
Lord, give me insight, wisdom and strength so that I can work in accord with Your will to protect the most innocent from the evils of this world. May I never cower in the face of evil, and may I always fulfill my duty to protect those entrusted to my care. Saint Joseph, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.
Holy Innocents Dec 28-2022
Introductory Prayer: Father, I come into your holy presence this day aware that you guide my life with love. I believe that nothing happens to me unless you will it. I renew my faith in your promise of heaven, where every tear will be wiped away. Thank you for getting involved in our cruel world to heal it with your love.
Dec. 28 Holy Innocents 2020
Opening Prayer: Lord, thank you for this opportunity to come before you in prayer. Help me to continue to celebrate your birth during this octave of Christmas. May I draw from this sobering story in today’s reading some guidance for my day.
1. Jesus Born into Difficult Times: Herod had temporal power and wielded it carelessly, resulting in the slaughtering of innocent children. How often it happens that those in power make decisions that seem senseless in our eyes. The death of these innocent infants, however, was not in vain. They were the first witnesses to the reality of the contradiction of Christ and, in this, also received their reward as martyrs. Jesus comes near when we offer him the small sufferings we endure daily. Our sufferings might, in fact, require enduring the tyranny of difficult leaders, as did this generation. What does it look like to witness to Christ when not everyone rallies around us? How are we living this Christmas season witnessing to Christ?
Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Ngày
28 thánh 12.. Lễ các thánh Anh hài
Opening Prayer: Lord, this is a difficult passage. Your ways can be hard to understand. Open my heart and my mind so I can hear your voice speaking to me through your word.
1. Does It Sound Familiar? The story of the flight into Egypt is not the first time in the Bible where God shows us what he is able to accomplish when human weakness and even sin come into the picture. Remember Joseph and the colored tunic story in the Old Testament? There are a few parallels between the two stories. Both stories ended in Egypt and both Josephs were led there by dreams. Both times their stay in Egypt was brought about by others’ sin. Joseph in the Old Testament was sold as a slave because his brothers were jealous. St. Joseph, in the New Testament story, led the Holy Family to Egypt because of Herod’s jealousy. As we think about how hard it must have been for the Holy Family to flee to an unknown land, we can remember that evil doesn’t have the last word in God’s plan. Divine Providence, in both cases, integrated mysterious human ways into the great story of salvation.
Qua bài Tin Mừng, chúng ta có thể tự hỏi là làm thế nào mà những vụ giết hại các trẻ sơ sinh nam vô tội ở Bethlehem phù hợp với những niềm vui của mùa Giáng sinh. Sự kiện tàn ác này của Hêrôdê đã gây ra biết bao nhiêu đau khổ và nước mắt cho cha mẹ của những trẻ sơ sinh tử đạo. Theo các lệnh của vua Hêrôdê bắt những trẻ sơ sinh nam, vô tội và không thể tự vệ, phải chết. Những tiếng kêu la được nghe ở Ra-ma; những than thở và khóc lóc đã thành tiếng. Bà Rachel khóc lóc thảm thiết vì con của bà đà bị hêrôđê giết. Bà từ chối những sự an ủi của mọi người, vì con trai của bà không còn nữa.
We may wonder how the massacre of the innocent male infants in Bethlehem fits in with the joy of the Christmas season. The event must have caused great suffering and anguish for the parents of the martyred babies. At the order of evil King Herod these male infants, innocent and defenseless, were killed: A cry is heard in Ramah; wailing and loud lamentation: Rachel weeps for her children. She refuses to be comfoted, for they are no more.
We pray with the Church: "O God, whom the Holy Innocents confessed and proclaimed on this day, not by speaking but by dying, grant that the faith in you we confess with our lips may also speak through our manner of life." (Collect at Mass, Feast of the Holy Innocents)
Let us pray for children and that we be graced to become like them: "I assure you that unless you change and become like little children, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes lowly like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and whoever received such a child in my name receives me." (Mt 18: 3–5) Let us pray for all victims of injustice and violence, especially involving children as we see in present-day wars and armed conflicts in the world. Let us especially pray for victims of injustice and violence against those still unborn.
Feast of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs - Fourth Day of the Octave of Christmas, December 28
When the magi had departed, behold, 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.” Matthew 2:13
The most glorious event ever to take place in our world also filled some with hatred and rage. Herod, who was jealous of his own earthly power, felt greatly threatened by the message shared with him by the Magi. And when the Magi failed to return to Herod to tell him where the Newborn King was located, Herod did the unthinkable. He ordered the slaughter of every boy, two years old and younger, who was in Bethlehem and its vicinity.
Such an act is hard to comprehend. How could the soldiers carry out such an evil plot? Imagine the deep mourning and devastation so many families encountered as a result. How could a civil ruler murder so many innocent children.
Of course, in our day and age, so many civil leaders continue to support the barbaric practice of permitting the slaughter of the innocent within the womb. Thus, in many ways, Herod’s action is not that different from today.
The passage above reveals to us the will of the Father regarding not only the protection of His divine Son but also His divine will for the protection and sanctity of all human life. It was satan who inspired Herod to kill those precious and innocent children so long ago, and it is satan who continues to promote a culture of death and destruction today. What should our response be? We, like Saint Joseph, must see it as our solemn duty to protect the most innocent and vulnerable with unwavering determination. Though this newborn Child was God, and though the Father in Heaven could have protected His Son with a myriad of angels, it was the Father’s will that a man, Saint Joseph, protect His Son. For that reason, we should also hear the Father calling each and every one of us to do all we can to protect the innocent and most vulnerable, especially the child within the womb.
Reflect, today, upon the will of God for your life. In what ways is God calling you to be like Saint Joseph and protect the most innocent and most vulnerable? How are you being called to be a guardian of those entrusted to your care? Certainly on a civil level we must all work to protect the lives of those who are unborn. But every parent, grandparent and all those entrusted with responsibility for another must strive to protect those in their care in countless other ways. We must diligently work to preserve them from the evils in our world and the numerous attacks of the evil one on their lives. Ponder this question today and allow the Lord to speak to you of your duty to imitate the great protector, Saint Joseph.
Lord, give me insight, wisdom and strength so that I can work in accord with Your will to protect the most innocent from the evils of this world. May I never cower in the face of evil, and may I always fulfill my duty to protect those entrusted to my care. Saint Joseph, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.
Introductory Prayer: Father, I come into your holy presence this day aware that you guide my life with love. I believe that nothing happens to me unless you will it. I renew my faith in your promise of heaven, where every tear will be wiped away. Thank you for getting involved in our cruel world to heal it with your love.
Opening Prayer: Lord, thank you for this opportunity to come before you in prayer. Help me to continue to celebrate your birth during this octave of Christmas. May I draw from this sobering story in today’s reading some guidance for my day.
1. Jesus Born into Difficult Times: Herod had temporal power and wielded it carelessly, resulting in the slaughtering of innocent children. How often it happens that those in power make decisions that seem senseless in our eyes. The death of these innocent infants, however, was not in vain. They were the first witnesses to the reality of the contradiction of Christ and, in this, also received their reward as martyrs. Jesus comes near when we offer him the small sufferings we endure daily. Our sufferings might, in fact, require enduring the tyranny of difficult leaders, as did this generation. What does it look like to witness to Christ when not everyone rallies around us? How are we living this Christmas season witnessing to Christ?
Opening Prayer: Lord, this is a difficult passage. Your ways can be hard to understand. Open my heart and my mind so I can hear your voice speaking to me through your word.
1. Does It Sound Familiar? The story of the flight into Egypt is not the first time in the Bible where God shows us what he is able to accomplish when human weakness and even sin come into the picture. Remember Joseph and the colored tunic story in the Old Testament? There are a few parallels between the two stories. Both stories ended in Egypt and both Josephs were led there by dreams. Both times their stay in Egypt was brought about by others’ sin. Joseph in the Old Testament was sold as a slave because his brothers were jealous. St. Joseph, in the New Testament story, led the Holy Family to Egypt because of Herod’s jealousy. As we think about how hard it must have been for the Holy Family to flee to an unknown land, we can remember that evil doesn’t have the last word in God’s plan. Divine Providence, in both cases, integrated mysterious human ways into the great story of salvation.
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