No darkness in God

Sisters and brothers in Christ, today is the Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs. Fear causes us to do things that we might not normally do. For instance, a child's fear of losing the love of his parents might cause him to tell a lie but only to realize that he made matters worst by lying to his parents. Fear can also be used to control others. For instance, a school bully uses fear to make other kids do that he wants them to do.

There is great wisdom in what Yoda observes of Anakin Skywalker's journey to the dark side: “Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering.” In today's Gospel, Herod feared using power, title, and prestige to the newborn King of the Jews. From that area of fear came anger and, in his wrath, he used his power over the people to order to massacre all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under. We see this happening in our society, in our schools, and, sadly, even in our families. The strong who prey on the weak using fear sin against God because they have no love for their fellow sojourners. They "walk in darkness" because "God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all." 

God does not desire this type of fear for us but calls us to trust in Him with faith and courage. Righteous "fear of the Lord" is one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:2) and it "is our obedience to God and our willingness to serve him. It is not just obedience through a sense of duty but rather obedience out of love and devotion." This is the fear that moved Saint Joseph to listen to the angel Gabriel to take Mary into his home and, in today's Gospel, to flee to Egypt with Mary and baby Jesus. Saint Joseph obeyed God out of love for Him and love for Mary and baby Jesus, and gives us an example of the fear (of the Lord) that should have and act upon.

. . .

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.”

Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night

and departed for Egypt.

He stayed there until the death of Herod,

that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled,

    Out of Egypt I called my son.

When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi,

he became furious.

He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity

two years old and under,

in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi.

Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet:

    A voice was heard in Ramah,

        sobbing and loud lamentation;

    Rachel weeping for her children,

        and she would not be consoled,

        since they were no more.