When the Magi had departed, an
angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Get up and take the
young child and his mother, and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for
Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.”
Joseph arose, took his family by night, and left for Egypt.
They lived there until the death of Herod, fulfilling what was spoken by the Lord
through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
When Herod saw that he was mocked by the Magi, he was exceedingly
angry, and ordered the death of all male children two years old and under in
Bethlehem and the surrounding countryside, according to the exact time he had
learned from the wise men. Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was
fulfilled:
“A voice was heard in Ramah,
lamentation, weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she wouldn’t be comforted,
because they were no more.”
When Herod was dead, an angel of the Lord appeared in a
dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Arise and take the young child and his
mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who sought the young child’s
life are dead.”
He arose and took the young child and his mother, and came
into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over
Judea in the place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there. Being
warned in a dream, he withdrew into the region of Galilee, and came to live in
Nazareth; that what was spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled: “He
will be called a Nazarene.”
The child grew, and became strong in spirit, being filled
with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.
Reflection
Herod’s
lust for power was so great that he had no hesitation to murder innocent children
to destroy someone who might be his rival. Rome maintained its power through
ruthless suppression of dissent; Herod, who considered himself to be a Jew, was
no less ruthless.
What
examples come to mind concerning ruthless actions taken today to gain or
preserve power? Could you ever be corrupted by power?
Prayer: Help me, Lord, never become so
accustomed to power and privilege that I would harm others to hold on to what I
have.
