The Monday within the Octave of the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord

2:13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.”

14 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:

18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Herod’s rage turns Bethlehem into a place of sorrow. The Magi’s visit of worship ended and the soldiers marched to slay the sons of Rachel. Matthew reminds us this fulfilled the prophet’s words: “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning.” The earthly king of the Jews feared a rival and drew his sword against infants. But the true King—humble and hidden—is borne to Egypt, the place of Israel’s ancient bondage. The Redeemer begins His earthly life in exile that He might later call us out of the bondage of sin and death.

The slaughtered children of Bethlehem and all its districts are martyrs for Jesus Christ, though they never spoke His Name. Their blood is a dreadful sign of the world’s hatred toward the Incarnate Word. Yet, even their deaths are gathered into His Gospel; the One whom they die for will soon die for them. The Son of God bears our affliction and turns the world’s cruelty into the cradle of redemption.

The promises of His Word are sure and true. The faithful people of God have the assurance of consolation and deliverance. In Him, death becomes the gate to everlasting life.

Collect: Almighty and Everlasting God, direct our actions according to Thy good pleasure, that in the Name of Thy beloved Son, we may be made to abound in good works; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.

Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that the new Birth of Thine Only-Begotten Son in the flesh may set us free who are held in the old bondage under the yoke of sin; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.