Today’s gospel options are from Matthew 2, which tells the story of the wise men visiting Herod as they follow the star to Bethlehem, Herod’s invitation for them to return so that he can also worship the new king, their decision not to return to Herod after seeing the Holy Family, and the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt prompted by an angel in Joseph’s dream. What the options don’t include is Matthew 2:16-18, the horrific story of the massacre of the Holy Innocents (feast day celebrated last Monday), Herod’s reaction to the birth of Jesus and the non-return of the wise men. It’s a sad story that gets little play during the Christmas season. As I wrote two years ago on this blog, it’s a story we should pay close attention to.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In