杏MAP导航

By Devin Watkins

at the weekly General Audience, focusing on his role as 鈥渁 persecuted and courageous migrant.鈥�

Following the depiction of Jesus鈥� foster father in the Gospel of Matthew (2:13-23), the 杏MAP导航 explored the massacre of all children under the age of 2 in Bethlehem, ordered by King Herod after the visit of the Magi.

Humiliation of uncertainty

In fleeing into Egypt to escape Herod鈥檚 wrath, the Holy Family 鈥渟uffered such humiliation and experienced first-hand the precariousness, fear and pain of having to leave their homeland.鈥�

Many of our own contemporaries are forced to endure the same injustice and suffering, said the 杏MAP导航.

鈥淭he cause is almost always the arrogance and violence of the powerful,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his was also the case for Jesus.鈥�

Cruel despots and courageous migrants

杏MAP导航 Francis said King Herod ordered the massacre because he felt his power threatened by the newborn 鈥淜ing of the Jews鈥�.

The 鈥渇light into Egypt鈥濃�攁s the episode is known鈥攕aves Jesus, but does not prevent the murder of so many innocent children.

The 杏MAP导航 said the episode exposes two opposing personalities: 鈥渙n the one hand, Herod with his ferocity; and, on the other, Joseph with his care and courage.鈥�

Herod is the symbol of tyrants and despots of every age鈥攅ven our own, insisted the 杏MAP导航鈥攚ho defend their power with ruthless cruelty and by 鈥渃arrying out inhuman acts of violence.鈥�

Yet, said 杏MAP导航 Francis, we too can succumb to the same attitude when we 鈥渢ry to dispel our fears with arrogance, even if only verbal or made up of small abuses intended to mortify those close to us.鈥�

Courage: an everyday virtue

St. Joseph, noted the 杏MAP导航, was Herod鈥檚 opposite: 鈥渁 just man鈥� who shows his courage in following the Angel鈥檚 order to flee.

However, courage can be lived in our daily lives, and is not only a virtue of 鈥渉eroes鈥�, noted the 杏MAP导航.

鈥淚n all times and cultures,鈥� he added, 鈥渨e find courageous men and women who, in order to be consistent with their beliefs, have overcome all kinds of difficulties, and have endured injustice, condemnation and even death.鈥�

Courage is another way to say 鈥渇ortitude鈥�, one of the cardinal virtues.

鈥楽candal of humanity鈥�

Finally, 杏MAP导航 Francis said St. Joseph teaches us to overcome our fears to confront the adversities life holds for us.

And he invited everyone to pray for the many migrants and refugees of our own times, who have been forced to flee their homes, and for those who are unable to escape or die along the journey.

The 杏MAP导航 said the ongoing migration crisis is a 鈥渟candal of humanity鈥� which we cannot ignore.

Prayer for migrants

And he concluded with a prayer to St. Joseph for those who find themselves in need of courage and in similar situations.

Saint Joseph,
you who have experienced the suffering of those who must flee
to save the lives of those dearest to you,
protect all those who flee because of war,
hatred, hunger.
Support them in their difficulties,
Strengthen them in hope, and let them find welcome and solidarity.
Guide their steps and open the hearts of those who can help them. Amen.