‘I THINK YOU STILL SHOULD’

Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. – Matthew 2:14

Nola Ochs should have been just one of those students graduating with a degree in history at Fort Hays State University in Kansas. Except that, at 95 years old, she is the world’s oldest female college graduate. Stunned? Don’t be so amused yet.

       While there will be many graduates alongside Nola, there is one in particular who holds a special place in her heart — her 21-year-old granddaughter, Alexandra Ochs. The two will receive their diplomas on stage, together.

       People, circumstances and other competing desires may have conspired to put Nola’s dream of a college diploma to death, but it didn’t die. After the dream’s “years of exile in Egypt,” Nola summoned it back. “Should I still pursue my dream? But isn’t it too late?” she asks. “I think you still should!” was her heart’s answer. “But people would laugh at me!” “I think you still should!” was the same answer. “But I’ll fail in the course of the journey!” “I think you still should!” her heart continued.

       Could it be that God didn’t allow your dream to die? Maybe you can still summon it back from exile. Then hear your heart say, “I think you still should…” Jon Escoto (faithatworkjon@gmail.com)

Reflection: What dream have you long forgotten but has recently caught your memory? Start praying about it again!

Father, give me the silence to hear the dream still breathing, and the courage to pursue it. Thank You.

The feast of the Holy Innocents is one whereby we remember those who have lost their lives through no fault of their own, especially those who have been aborted. Herod attempts the impossible — to kill the child Jesus without knowing His identity — thus, he initiates a great massacre of children. Similarly, war, abortion or drug trafficking do not discrimate, too. We cannot truly call ourselves a human society when such horrors go unchecked and often without question.

5 Beloved: This is the message that we have heard from Jesus Christ and proclaim to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” while we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do not act in truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say, “We are without sin,” we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing. 10 If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 2: 1 My children, I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one. 2 He is expiation for our sins, and  not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.

R: Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler’s snare.

2 Had not the Lord been with us — when men rose up against us, 3 then would they have swallowed us alive. When their fury was inflamed against us. (R) 4 Then would the waters have overwhelmed us; the torrent would have swept over us; 5 over us then would have swept the raging waters. (R) 7 Broken was the snare, and we were freed. 8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. (R)

The lives of all children are vulnerable to the powerful, especially the self-interested and the uncaring. One of the greatest tragedies of the present consumerist society is how we don’t seem to care about the type of world we will bequeath to the next generation — one full of denuded landscapes from the misuse and abuse of the environment; stockpiles of highly radioactive materials that have not been properly disposed of, and many others besides, including exhausted natural resources. And all for what? For a moment’s pleasure and comfort! It is this sort of shortsighted thinking that endangers the health of our Mother Earth.

We praise you, O God, we acclaim you as Lord; the white robed army of martyrs praise you.

13 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.” 14 Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. 15 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.” 16 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. 17 Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet: 18 “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.”

think:  We cannot truly call ourselves a human society when horrors such as war, abortion, human trafficking and destruction of Mother Earth go unchecked.

SILENCE IN SUFFERING

In the midst of this joyous season of Christmas, we are confronted with the horror of evil. The Church today honors those silent witnesses, the holy innocents. No word is spoken from their lips; no actions of retaliation are made manifest. They are born, they suffer and they die in silence. Jesus, too, is born in silence; He suffers death, and dies in silence. From the very depths, silence is heard by God alone.

       Luke reports that Herod was furious at having been outwitted by the Wise Men. His anger is so violent that it results in the murdering of male infants. He is not at rest until his rage has been relieved. No one in his mind has a right to take his throne. So intense is his fury that he sees the murderous act as his only solution to keeping the throne. We can see in Herod the extent of selfishness made manifest. Fortunately, the Holy Family escapes, remaining in Egypt until a suitable time to return. Already, a few days after Jesus’ birth, He is experiencing exile and rejection from His own. John writes about this in his Gospel.

       Violence is all around us. The nightly news reminds us of the horrors of domestic and worldly violence within nations and homes. We ourselves witness the suffering of the innocent in our own time. History repeats itself as we are in touch with the issues of abortion and euthanasia — so rampant in most societies. Terrorism haunts us, national revolts are brewing and tensions run high on the home front.

       Jesus has stepped into the world as we know it. Blessed be God who has the final say. On the Cross, He has shown us victory over death, and the power of God over seemingly unending violence. The Gospel points to hope. Jesus is the Hope of all Nations. He comes as the Prince of Peace. He is the Wonderful Counselor. He is Mighty God. In the midst of worldly violence, we must turn to Jesus. We offer to Jesus, who is peace Himself, our families, nations and governments. We unite our prayers with Him and His mother, Mary, who is the Queen of Peace. Fr. Brian Steele, MGL

REFLECTION QUESTION: Let us pray for peace in our own hearts and minds.

Lord, I suffer in silence as I see the world around me steeped in violence. Make me a channel of Your peace. Amen.