“If we say, ‘We are without sin,’ we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us”
Holy Innocents
(December 28, 2009)
“If we say, ‘We are without sin,’ we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us”
Scriptures: 1Jn 1: 5 – 2: 2; Ps 124; Mt 2: 13 -18
How do I react to gift in another person, in other people? “Of what use is it to have eyes if the heart is blind?”
There is a point of “communion” between us and God, between us and other people. For John it is the light. The first truth this light of God reveals is that we are sinners in need of God’s help. Relating to God means seeing more and more clearly what we need to work on with God’s grace to strengthen our identification with his Son like these innocent children. The psalm affirms the certainty of this rescue by our God who keeps sending his light to guide our steps into the way of peace.
The gospel presents a contrasting picture. Herod has “communion” with Christ in kingship, but he cannot stand it. Why? Partly because he cannot bring himself to see his limitations as ruler; he cannot handle his need of ‘external help’. If there should be any ‘real messiahs’ they should come from the house of Herod – he thinks. That is his darkness and blindness made explicit by the fact that the scriptures in which he and his sages believed indicate clearly such prophecies from the living God. Herod is portrayed as the perfect example of one in whom the truth does not dwell at all. Before I read for you my understanding of God is calling you to do with somebody else’s giftedness through a story, I need to say that Jesus is the main character for us to consider. The coming of Christ on earth, as the fathers have taught us sends to heaven those on earth who are his own: Stephen the first martyr on the 26th, John the apostle and evangelist on the 27th, the holy innocents today. Men, women and children of all walks of life are called to be close friends of Christ in different ways. They all said “Yes” with various degrees of awareness and levels of consent. We are therefore in good company with them in our own struggles to say, “Yes Lord, I will follow you wherever you lead me!”
Here is the story of how to receive the blessings given by God to other people, with the spirit of John the Baptist and the spirit of Christ Jesus: a spirit of thankfulness for having others as spouse, siblings, friends, colleagues…etc. Our innocent comes from knowing God’s greatness, even through others.
A story, originally from Anthony de Mello, S.J.
A holy man dedicated to prayer and contemplation in a secluded place receives an unexpected visitor: the abbot of a well-known monastery.
“What is it you seek?” asked the holy man.
The abbot recounted a tale of woe. At one time, his monastery had been famous throughout the western world. Its cells were filled with young aspirants and its church resounded to the chant of its monks. But hard times had come on the monastery. People no longer flocked there to nourish their spirits, the stream of young aspirants had dried up, the church was silent. There was only a handful of monks left and these went about their duties with heavy hearts.
Now this is what the abbot wanted help in discernment about: “Is it because of some sin of ours that the monastery has been reduced to this state?”
“Yes,” said the holy man, “a sin of ignorance.”
“And what sin might that be?”
“One of your number is the Messiah in disguise and you are ignorant of this.” Having said that the holy man closed his eyes and returned to his contemplation of God.
Throughout the arduous journey back to his monastery the abbot’s heart beat fast at the thought that the Messiah –the Messiah himself—had returned to earth and was right there in the monastery. How was it he had failed to recognize him? And who could it be? Brother Cook? Brother Sacristan? Brother Treasurer? Brother Prior? No, not he; he had too many defects, alas. But then, the holy man said he was in disguise. Could those defects be one of his disguises? Come to think of it, everyone in the monastery had defects. And one of them had to be the Messiah!
Back in the monastery he assembled the monks and told them what he had discovered. They looked at one another in disbelief. The Messiah? Here? Incredible! But he was supposed to be here in disguise. So, maybe. What if it were so-and-so? Or the other one over there? Or. . .
One thing was certain. If the Messiah was there in disguise, it was not likely that they would recognize him. So they took to treating everyone with respect and consideration. “You never know,” they said to themselves when they dealt with one another, “maybe this is the one.”
The result of this was that the atmosphere in the monastery became vibrant with joy. Soon dozens of aspirants were seeking admission to the Order—and once again the church echoed with the holy and joyful chant of monks who were aglow with the spirit of love.
As we receive strength from the Eucharist, let us ask God for the grace of constant discerning of our pathway in friendship with his incarnate son: good community life for these monks, good family life for most of us, and our various involvements for the well-being of the larger world.
