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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.
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Featured image above: The Virgin and Child surrounded by
angels by Peter Paul Ruben, via Wikimedia Commons
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