GOD CAN TURN ALL THINGS INTO GOOD! ~ CookingFood.Org

“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”

Wednesday, 28^th December 2016,

Christmas Octave

Feast of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs

1 Jn 1:5 – 2:2;

Ps 124: 1-4, 7-8;

Mt 2: 13-18.

GOD CAN TURN ALL THINGS INTO GOOD!

Today, we are given witness of the ‘Martyrdom of the Holy Innocents’. Out of envy and hatred, Herod had countless innocent children killed in an attempt to eliminate Jesus, the newborn King. We can only imagine the grief that would have filled the town of Bethlehem and its vicinity as the soldiers went through killing those innocent children as their parents watched helplessly. On one hand, it’s shocking to know that God permitted this. On the other hand, on a level of deep faith, we must strive to understand the witness that these innocent children gave. In Heaven, and forevermore, these innocent victims will wear the martyr’s crown and will be honored by the angels and saints as the first witnesses to the newborn King. Though this may not have eased the pain at the time, it will certainly transform the pain those families felt as they enter into the justice of Heaven.

Their witness reveals to us that there are many times in life when things are simply not fair and not just. Whatever our “tragedy” may be, we must know that the Son of God entered our world, taking on our fallen human nature, so that He could make all things right. Let His Incarnation, death and resurrection transform your hurt into a crown of martyrdom. In the end, the Lord will be victorious in your life if you let Him.

May this feast also bring in us a great sense of respect for all forms of life and the grace to treat everyone with dignity and respect. May it bring us to defend life and dignity of human beings. May we be a generation which says no to abortion, female foeticide, and Euthanasia.

Prayer: Lord, I surrender all hurt, pain and confusion to You. I unite myself, this day, with the sorrow of those who lost these little children and I trust that their lives, as they reign now in Heaven with You, are a sign for me of things to come. Your birth into our world was the greatest sign that You are our Savior and that You can turn all things into good. Jesus, I entrust my life to You and know that You will right every wrong. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.