“Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under.” Matthew 2:16
Tonight we are camping by some palm trees. Water rushing down my throat was a welcome blessing, but not sufficient to placate the pain within my heart. We learned today that when Herod realized that he had been tricked by the magi, he took vengeance against the innocent children of Bethlehem. While the men were working, Herod’s soldiers showed up on the town, and like a ray filled with rage and death, they slewed all the male children under two years of age. He did it to destroy my Son, the Messiah, just in case he could be a threat to his throne in the future. And just like that, without an ounce of mercy, he killed innocent baby boys hoping that my Son would be amongst them.
The men heard the screams of their wives all the way to the valleys and mountains where they were either shepherding their flock or tending their crops. It all happened on the day that we left. A sword pierced my heart thinking about baby Simon who was for sure amongst the innocent boys who lost their lives on that day. My heart went out to Matthias and Joanna. I would have given anything to return to console them. But I knew that my presence would never be enough to make up for losing their baby. Would they suspect that our sudden departure was related to the massacre? Could they imagine that Jesus was the reason why they lost their baby boy in such a cruel way? Or would they think that it was just a coincidence and we were lucky to have left when we did because that saved our Baby’s live?
It did not matter. We had escaped the pain of losing our Baby, but the pain had followed us. Why them and not us? What was the purpose of pouring out the blood of all those innocent children? When we heard the news from another caravan that we crossed on our way to Egypt, Joseph and I hugged each other, and we cried. We cried for those innocent boys. We cried for the parents. We cried for the grandparents and the siblings. We cried for baby Simon. We cried for Matthias and Joanna. We cried for all those lives cut short.
We thanked God for having sent the angel to Joseph in his dream, but we cried because it never crossed our minds that Herod could be so cruel to commit such atrocity. I felt the pain of those mothers within me, as if it was my own pain, because somehow I felt that all those children were also my children. Why Lord? Why so much horror? And to think that this innocent Child that I carry in my arms is the reason for such cruelty. Why my God do you allow such pain to take place? Why did you permit the death of the innocent? I will carry this pain in my soul forever, knowing that innocent children suffered martyrdom because of my Son. If I had known, I would have told Matthias and Joanna, and taken them with us. We could have saved baby Simon. But we didn’t know, and now, we must live with this pain, which is nothing in comparison to the pain that they have been feeling for the past five days since they lost their baby boy.
My limited human mind could not comprehend the mystery of love and hatred which God allows to be knit together like a tapestry of which we can only see the ugly side, where the threads are tight together, but one day, we will be able to witness the heavenly side in full detail and color. It’s like the wheat and the weed that grow together in the fields. But these explanations are not sufficient to placate the pain of a mother that has just lost her baby boy in such a cruel and horrific way. Their broken hearts were bleeding and there was no word that could bring them consolation.
I talked to my Son silently in the dark. My little Boy who has yet to have a real home. God on earth has become a homeless person, journeying from place to place. And as I talked to Him, I began to cry inconsolably for all those children that would never reach adulthood. I cried for those innocent children who agonized in order to save God’s life.
As I said my prayers, I recalled another cruel king, the Egyptian Pharaoh, who ordered the execution of all newborn Israelite males. Moses was saved by God’s providence and later led his people out of Egypt. My Son has been spared too by God’s protection. Will He be like Moses and also save His people?
Reflection:
Mary and Joseph’s journey is difficult and challenging, but their hearts are set on God who is the one that is guiding their steps. When have I experienced God leading me on a “different but better path” than I would have chosen on my own? Have I ever taken an important step in “blind faith” like Joseph and Mary did?
Copyright © 2020 Christy Romero. All rights reserved.
Resources from the following books are being used on this journey:
1. The Mystical City of God: A Popular Abridgement of the Divine History and Live of the Virgin Mother of God by Venerable Mary of
Agreda
2. The World’s First Love: Mary, Mother of God by Fulton J. Sheen
3. Las Palabras Calladas: Diario de Maria de Nazaret by Pedro Miguel Lamet
4. My Soul Magnifies the Lord: A Scriptural Journey with Mary by Jeanne Kun
All Bible references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise specified.
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