Homily of the Saturday in the octave of Christmas.
Feast of the Holy Innocents
I John 1:5-2:2, Matthew 2:13-18
Have you ever faced a situation where your life was threatened by an evil person in authority, leaving you with no “safe place” to turn? A scenario where even the security agents and lawyers are compromised, bought over by the same corrupt leader? In such moments, turning to God as your refuge becomes the only source of hope and strength.
I once found myself in such a situation. The village chief demanded that all the men, including Catholics like my father and younger brother, take an oath at the ancestral shrine. I objected, stating that as Catholics, we do not take such oaths. That was my offense. Soon after, the head of the village cult sent me a threat so severe that I had to go into hiding. I remained in hiding until the cult leader died—ironically, his life ended when a lorry crushed him.
The feast of the Holy Innocents, which we celebrate today in the Catholic Church, reminds us of a similar threat faced by Joseph, Mary, and Jesus. They fled to Egypt and remained there until Herod, the wicked ruler, had died (Matthew 2:13-14).
Elijah experienced a similar ordeal with Jezebel, the wicked queen, and had to wait for her death before finding relief (1 Kings 19:1-2, 10-11). Likewise, David had to continuously flee from King Saul, who sought his life out of jealousy (1 Samuel 19:1-2).
In all these situations, the individuals turned to God, the “Incorruptible Judge,” for refuge. Proverbs 18:10 assures us, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.”
Dear friends in Christ, many innocent people in every part of the world still face life-threatening situations under corrupt leaders. While they seek refuge in God, we can also help by advocating for and providing access to trustworthy security agents and legal support. By doing so, we contribute to making the world a safer and better place for everyone.
May God grant us the grace and strength to bring about positive change in our communities. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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