MEDITATION TIPS (Episode 284)
Holy Family,
December 28, 2025

“Take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt” (Matthew 2:13)

　When the Savior was born, Herod, jealous of him, plotted to kill the child. But the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, instructing him to take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt, and the family escaped the danger (Matthew 2:13-15). Yet, the Lord’s birth brought both light and shadow. According to the Gospel account, “When Herod realized that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was furious. He sent men to Bethlehem and its surrounding area to kill every male child two years old and under, based on the time he had ascertained from the wise men” (Matthew 2:16). The Church commemorates these children, who were killed as substitutes for Jesus, as the “Infant Martyrs” every year on December 28th. The infants surely did not intend to become martyrs. Yet the Church has given martyrdom meaning to these children who became substitutes for Jesus.

　Now, though the Gospels do not explicitly state it, Mary and Joseph could not have been unaware of this grave fact—that many innocent children lost their lives for the sake of the infant Jesus. Parents who rejoice only because their own child was spared are not true parents. “The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him” (Luke 2:40). Yet behind this, Mary surely remembered the words of the elder Simeon: “A sword will pierce your own soul too” (Luke 2:35), recalling the children killed as substitutes for Jesus.

　And finally, the day came when they had to tell Jesus. When Jesus was old enough to understand, Joseph and Mary surely said, “Something terrible happened when you were born. Many boys under two years old around Bethlehem were killed for your sake.” How must the young Jesus have felt hearing this? “So many innocent boys were killed for me!” His heart must have been torn apart. Knowing this, the young Jesus surely realized he could no longer live an ordinary life. If innocent children had given their lives for him, then now he himself must give his life to free many from sin. As the boy Jesus grew, this conviction must have taken root in his heart. I imagine this conviction eventually led Jesus to his ministry.

　During his ministry, Jesus blessed little children (Matthew 19:13-15, Mark 10:13-16, Luke 18:15-17) and taught that one must change and become like a child to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:1-5). This was not merely because children are cute or sinless, but surely also because at his own birth, many children had given their lives for him.

　Later, as Jesus faced His Passion, while praying in agony on the Mount of Olives, “an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened Him” (Luke 22:43). This angel may have been the spirit of the little children who had given their lives for Jesus.

 　　　　　(Contributed by Father Yutaka Akabae)