Dying for Jesus or Martyrdom for Jesus starts with His Birth

Gospel Thoughts

*Christmas Season : The Feast of the Holy innocents*

*GOSPEL - Mt 2:13-18*

*First Reading - 1 Jn 1:5—2:2*

*Dying for Jesus or Martyrdom for Jesus starts with His Birth*

*1) The Holy innocents were the First Martyrs for Christ*

The innocent children were martyred immediately after few days of the birth of Jesus. 

When Herod  came to know that there is an extraordinary child who was born to become the great King he planned to kill the child.

Since he was not able to identify the child he killed all the children in the vicinity.

Thus all these children became the first martyrs for Christ 

*2) Children becoming the Martyrs for some one is an extraordinary thing*

Innocent children sacrificing their life for the sake of the other, is not an ordinary issue. It is something extraordinary thing, which is very difficult to explain 

*3) Innocent Cry is the most powerful weapon of Martyrdom*

In their martyrdom, we hear only a innocent cry. But this innocent cry is most powerful thing in the bible than anything else 

Anything may go unnoticed, but not the *Innocent cry* of the children. 

Innocent cry has a special place and reference in the bible than anything else. 

So the innocent cry of these little ones, heard even today, when we reflect about the birth of Jesus. So that is the power of the *innocent cry* before God

*4) Innocent Children Hailed life, through their Martyrdom*

In their martyrdom one thing becomes very clear - that is the value of life 

Those children died for life and not for death 

These children gave their life for witnessing life and not death

They gave their life in order to save life and to defeat the death 

So these innocent children, hailed life through their martyrdom

*5) Martyred children are great inspiration to all of us*

They are inspiration to us because 

Their life speaks to us than their words 

Their actions are louder than their words 

Their innocent cry is more powerful than any other modern sound, even to this day

*6) Martyrdom should become the daily affair of our Life*

Martyrdom is not one event, but it should become a daily affair of our life 

Since martyrdom is the part and parcel of Christian life, we must train ourselves to make this martyrdom as a daily affair of our life 

With out the martyrdom there is no meaning for our Christian life and spirituality

*7) Sacrificing life or equivalent to this any other thing is itself a Martyrdom*

In martyrdom we need to be ready to sacrifice many things 

So it could life for the sake of Jesus 

So it be sacrificing life's comfort and luxury for the sake of Jesus 

It could be facing persecution of various kinds for the sake of Jesus 

It could be, a readiness to sacrifice ones power, position, wealth, and other valuables for the sake of Jesus 

In this way, martyrdom becomes a daily affair which we need to practice in our life in order to bear witness to Christ. 

*Am I ready to become martyr for the sake of Jesus?*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*