Mt 2:13-18 The Murder of Innocence
While back home, I had the unfortunate displeasure of watching a few minutes of a talk show called “Live with Regis and Kelly.” It made me sick to my stomach. The co-star Kelly made reference to a recent poll showing that for the first time in US history, there were fewer people getting married. Not only that, but single parents consider themselves a very good thing for society. In other words, single parenting is no longer an unfortunate situation or a heart breaking reality but rather a choice, a blessing! I guess the same goes for same-sex marriage, no-fault divorce, embryonic research and destruction and contraception. These human tragedies may be considered by some to be nothing more than cultural shifts or new family models, but I am here to tell you that they are nothing less than the advancing goose steps of the culture of death and the murder of innocence!
Human life is in danger today just as much as the Holy Family was under attack in years gone by. Children are bullied, abused and sold because they can be murdered, just like years gone by. The novelty today is that parental rights - authority - is questioned by the so-called experts, educators and movie producers with devastating consequences felt by society as a whole.
What is the solution? The same as the Lord’s: we need holy families – moms and dads that tell their love story of marriage, family, struggle and commitment. We need holy families that will proclaim the Good News with great joy! We need saints – moms, dads and children that inspire others through their unconditional love/sacrifices for each other. We need martyrs! That is, those children who are willing to stand up to the culture of death by laying down their lives to advance the Way, the Truth and the Life – the life of Jesus. Our mission is no easier than that of the Holy Innocents. They are the ones that first made evident an entire generation of secular humans gone mad! The massacre of the Holy Innocents; that is, the laying down of their lives gave to the world a silent testimony of unconditional love for God and the screaming consequences of unconditional hatred towards God and others.
We have become very practical. Modern man is very practical and our practicality is turning us into machines rather than humans. Herod had no heart. He had a mission and he executed it with cold blooded efficiency. He took no risks; never doubted for a moment. He was sure in his plan. But the Lord knows the plans of evil men. I love what the Psalmist writes, “Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler’s snare!” (Ps 124:7) Evil destroys itself, we should fear not.
What must we do? What worked for Mary and Joseph will work for us. What worked then will work today: fidelity during hardship and trials; happiness and confidence in times of persecution; commitment to God’s Law will bring about freedom and peace. Forgiveness for our failures will welcome a sinful man back home. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Scarlet Letter, the narrator counsels us to “Be true!” He pleads with us to acknowledge the truth tragedy reveals about the human condition: we are imperfect and limited beings, and if we try to deny this fact or hide our flaws from others, we ruin ourselves. Cultural shifts and the so-called “new family models” are not the result of changing times, but rather the result of the ever-present reality of sin. Come what may, Love is given with joy, fidelity and commitment. And when we sin, we fall short of that love. That’s true today, it was true yesterday and will be true forever.
“We have fellowship with him” (1Jn 1:5). Stick with the Lord from the beginning till the end. Do not waver, do not doubt, and do not hesitate. We have fellowship with the Lord means we are committed to Him, and once committed there is no turning back. Let us follow the Holy Family through the raging fires of Hell.
Excellent Meditation Father!
ReplyDeleteWhen I read the readings for today and read the Gospel my heart completely sunk. it was like I was there and could hear and feel the weeping and crying. However, the killing of innocents did not just happen then, it still happens now as I type.
Again thank you for your daily meditations, they really speak to me.
God Bless, Rose :)
Father Alfonse, your meditation is great, we need Holy Families, we need to give example to the world that it is possible!!! with God everything is possible!!. Thank you for your meditations it helps my family to work hard to be a Holy Family!
ReplyDeleteGod Bless you! You are always in our prayers.
Maru
Thank you for speaking out against the culture of death!
ReplyDeleteThat show, "Live with Regis and Kelly", those two, Regis and Kelly, are actually Catholic. Regis sent his children to Catholic School all the way to Notre Dame for college. Shame on Kelly for wanting to be "popular", so she goes against her religion.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of role model families, my family and I went to church every single Sunday, but me and my sisters needed more than church to survive and learn how to live a moral life after the loss of our mother. I know what I'm about to say may not be what you mean, but it sure helped me survive and learn.:
My mom died when I was 12 and I had 4 younger sisters. My dad mostly made things even more difficult for myself and my 4 sisters.
I learned how to be a good wife and parent and home maker,mostly by watching "Father knows Best" and "Leave it to Beaver". In these shows I found tight knit families, mom and dad ran the household and worked together in raising the children, kids had responsibilities and respected their elders, they went to church as a family, were good neighbors, kind to others, lots of love and safety at home, mom and dad took care of their children and respected them and truly wanted the best for them. Dad went to work every day and then worked around the house too like mowing and fixing things. Mom stayed home and stayed busy cleaning, cooking, grocery shopping, sewing, knitting, keeping the home running smoothly and helping out at the kids' school and taking care of elderly friends or neighbors. Some episodes of these shows showed the family helping the less fortunate or helping out in general. The kids looked after each other and loved each other, got jobs early like paperboy or grocery store sweeper. Good morals in these shows. I am thankful for tv. Helped me through some pretty rough times when no one was willing to help me or my sisters. When no real live role models were available to us.
Everything is so powerful here. From the Gospel, Father A's meditation,the artwork and comments, what a naked view into so much of current culture. Such sadness overcomes me as this vision of society is descriptively painted, but equally inspiring, too. So much truth in telling our children and friends our "stories of marriage,family,struggle and commitment". It is so important to honestly share and support each other. When a friend or even a total stranger shares a healed or fresh wound of strife or triumph especially about family or something personal, wow, am I thankful. It brings a humaness and humbleness that reminds me that we are here to help each other. "Be kind, rewind" Remember that from the VHS tapes we rented. I know it's really cheesy, but I couldn't help it. 80's humor is pretty funny. Anyway, I find that when I "rewind" and tell of my experiences or someone tells me of theirs about strengthening bonds with family and friends, it truly spreads kindness, continues to help heal issues and helps all of us know that we are not alone in struggles and commitment to our family, faith and future.
ReplyDelete