Holy Innocents

Today, December 28, marks the Feast of the Holy Innocents: little baby boys, two years of age and under who were massacred by King Herod. It was Jesus whom he sought to kill, but his blind rage would brook no opposition to his seething ambition to allow no rival ascend his throne. Scholars estimate that perhaps 20 innocent children perished because of the king's jealousy. Some wonder why the  Church honors these little ones. Without words to speak they shed their blood in place of the Divine Baby hidden in the arms of Mary and protected by Joseph. Safe in Egypt the Holy Family escaped Herod's wrath. As the writer in the current issue of Magnificat magaine says what an honor to be "mistaken" for Christ.
Would my actions today be mistaken for those of Jesus?

Christmas Hope

In my last post I  placed an image of Baby Jesus with the words, "He is our Hope."  The original bookmark I used had a wonderful timely prayer on the back that I would like to share with you as my gift to all my readers:

A Prayer for Unfailing Hope



Lord Jesus, you see my entire life:


past, present, and future.


You know my thoughts and feelings.


You see how hard life can be,


how unfair it can seem at times.


In all the confusion, one thing is certain—


your love for me never changes.


I place all my hope in You.


You embrace me as I am.


You walk with me and guide me.


Help me to recognize Your presence


and to follow where you lead with trust.


You desire only the greatest good for me;


You are on my side.


I place all my hope in You.


Help me to know how much


you want to be part of my life.


Widen the limits of my heart


to make room for You


and through You for others.


You are God, my Savior.


I place all my hope in You.


Blessing: “May the God of hope fill us


with all joy and peace in believing,


so that we might abound in hope by


the power of the Holy Spirit” (Rom 15:13).


To practice: Read a passage from the New

Testament daily.


www.pauline.org


www.mydiscoverhope.org


© Daughters of St. Paul

Christmas

Merry Christmas to all my readers.Today, as we celebrate Christ's birth we enjoy a lovely crisp winter day. All of nature seems happy to receive the Baby who came to save the world. Even our Christmas cactus is loaded with blossoms slowly opening their delicate flowers.
As our pastor said last night, "Let's keep it simple. God became 'Baby'-- human--for us". So at this morning's Mass when a toddler's voice pierced a momentary silence, it seemed appropriate--a reminder that God took on a Baby wordless voice too. In real time he grew up to preach, teach. die and rise. That night in the stable in Bethlehem when God appeared as Baby and man for us a never-ending fountain of grace opened to refresh and sustain us.