Gospel: Matthew 2:13-18
When the magi had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, Out of Egypt I called my son.
When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi, he became furious. He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi. Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet: A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be consoled, since they were no more.
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Reflection:
The story is told about a married man who for three long years was always advising his wife to cease her affair with her adulterous, wicked and evil married officemate. The wife did not listen to her husband’s countless counsels, she instead continuously manipulated and lied to him.
Eventually the husband laid a trap for his wife and her wicked, evil and shameless paramour. So they were caught in flagrante delicto or in the very act of sexual misconduct. Cases were filed by the husband against his wife and the wicked, evil and devious lover. Soon after the long-suffering husband took the high and difficult but honorable road by forgiving both of them.
Do you believe in angels?
What if Joseph did not listen to the command of the angel of the Lord? The child Jesus would have been killed by Herod and his minions. But Joseph was a good and obedient man of the Lord. So he listened and in the process he helped save the life of the child Jesus.
Angels who act as messengers of God abound in this world and they are not the winged ones anymore. They are humans like us who would always advise us to avoid doing what is not good and sinful. Or they would advise us to do good always even if others are not doing good to them. Therefore, we have to listen because if we would not listen we would eventually be in a problematic situation.
As Saint Joseph listened to the command of the angel of the Lord. We too have to listen to the wisdom filled advice/s being given to us by people who have nothing but concern and love for us.
Do you always listen to meaningful advice or counsel? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
