December 28 Homily

Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs

December 28, 2021

Readings: (CLick here to read full text)

    Reading I: 1 Jn 1:5—2:2
    Responsorial Psalm: 124:2-3, 4-5, 7cd-8

    Gospel: Mt 2:13-18

Right after Christmas, we celebrate the feasts of St. Stephen, St. John the Apostle and Evangelist, and now the Feast of the Holy Innocents. This tells us that whether in life and in death, Jesus is the reason. He is the reason of the death of Stephen, the first Christian martyr who washed his robe in the blood of the Lamb. He is the reason of the deaths of many innocent children in Jerusalem, whom Herod massacred for fear of the birth of the Messiah, the King of the Universe. He is the reason of the life and death of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist.

The Holy Innocents were considered the first martyrs of the Church. Herod, intending to kill the newborn King, Jesus Christ, who was a threat to his throne, massacred boys in Jerusalem two years old and under. They were not killed for Jesus, but rather they were killed instead of Jesus. They died so that Jesus might live. Thus, we can consider them as other Christs. In secular terms, we call them heroes, but in faith, we call them martyrs, though they did not know who Jesus was. Even in their innocence, they gave up their lives so that Jesus could complete His mission.

Now let us ask ourselves, is Jesus truly the reason of my life and my death? Am I ready to give up my life so that Jesus's mission may be fulfilled?

Fr. Joel Lasutaz, SSS

Image credit: catholicsun.org