So connected to God is Joseph, that God shares His will with him in a dream. The evil Herod is enraged with jealousy because of the possibility of people turning away from him, to an infant King. The only emotion that people have toward Herod is fear. Herod kills the most innocent of persons-children. Still today, all around the world, children and other innocent people die in wars and all kinds of violence. Think of the countless number of refugees.
During all this turmoil, Jesus quietly sleeps in his mother’s arms, Joseph leading the way as they make another journey-this time to Egypt. Follow them. Hear the noise of Herod’s fury gradually fade away as you hear only the “clomp, clomp, clomp” of the donkey carrying Mary again…this time with Jesus in her arms. Feel the silence; feel the protection of God. May you rest in prayer with the Holy Family and find peace in their silence.
On Sundays we follow the Gospels from the Revised Common Lectionary.
These Firestarters are from a new edition of The Bible Through the Seasons being developed for families with children. For the Firestarters in the original edition, I recommend the ebook. You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or table! Check the menu options at the site for more information.
The Bible Through the Seasons 