Wednesday, December 27, 2023

Feast of the Holy Innocents



The feast today once again prompts us to ponder the perennial question that each of us contemplates continuously: Why must the innocent endure suffering?

The first reading distinctly addresses those who profess to dwell in the light and assert their innocence, yet persist in causing harm to others, living contrary to the truth. These individuals are the deceivers, and it is they who bear responsibility for the suffering of the innocent.

Herod deceived the Magi, seeking to eliminate Baby Jesus. When outwitted by the Magi, he turned violent, massacring all the innocent infants. Driven by his fear of his own future, Herod obliterated the future of these children. Sadly, this tragedy persists in the present, with ongoing wars claiming the lives of numerous children. Our world is not markedly different; Herod-like figures persist in extinguishing the lives of the innocent, jeopardizing the future of humanity.

Liars dominate our world, manipulating the narrative through the media, ostensibly for the greater good of society but with the true agenda of undermining the future. Our children embody that future, and the absence of children in the Church raises questions about its future. Truth is consistently buried. The peril lies in our growing acceptance of these lies and liars, enabling us to coexist in this world without acknowledging the problem.

Why should the innocent suffer? They need not and should not. If each of us, with courage, upholds the truth within our families, refrains from falsehoods, and concurrently strives for a positive future for our children, we can contribute to a better world. Simultaneously, as we fulfill our societal responsibilities, we can trust that God will intervene at the opportune moment, safeguarding the future of humanity by championing the pure and the innocent.