698 12-28-20 Holy Innocents Matthew 2:13-18
In government today there are those who propose that when a child is born naturally that the Doctor would consult with the mother of the child as to whether the child should be permitted to live, or its life be terminated. The first objection to this practice should be that there is no father involved in this decision, no Father God, no father of the Church, or no father of the child. I believe this is happening in some hospital’s in some area of our country. These people’s thinking is as bad Herod’s in Matthew 2:16, “then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was in a furious rage, and sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under.” But Joseph had already left for Egypt because of the message he received from the angel of the Lord in a dream.
Once I heard it said from this pulpit that Jesus was not born on Christmas day because the shepherds were not in the fields in the wintertime. We must understand that Jesus was a Jew, and in his life, he fulfilled every jot and tittle for the Jewish Law.
The Jews believed that life began at conception also that the next day starts at sundown remember this. Some say that the Christ came or was born as we think on the Jewish feast of trumpets which is September 29th 2BC. The gestation period of a fetus in a womb is 289 days.
Surprise when one traces back 289 days from September 29th 2BC it comes to Dec. 24 at sundown, the beginning of Christmas day on the Jewish calendar. This is when the angel appeared to Mary and she said yes, that would be 3 BC. Christ’s baptism took place on Oct. 14, 29 AD. His Crucifixion took place on April 3, 33 AD.
Three is a number that occurs often in sacred scripture and it means pay attention sacred history is relevant in the reading, therefore since Christ was conceived Christmas day 3 BC and died April 3, 33 AD. these dates are most likely accurate.
I believe that in our ongoing struggle against abortion, this should be taught.
Lord Jesus, you gave your life for our sake, to redeem us from slavery to sin and death.
Help us to carry our cross with joy that we may willingly do your will and not shrink back out of fear or cowardice when trouble besets us.
Saint James Catholic Church 