Homily by Fr. Peter Struk on the Sunday after Christmas

Today, on the Sunday after Christmas, the last Sunday before Theophany, we continue reading the Gospel from Matthew. Namely, the completion of the angel’s message to the wise men, so that the kings who are on their way to Bethlehem do not go to Herod, as well as the notification of Joseph in a dream to take the child and his mother, Mary, and flee to Egypt until God calls him back.

God gives man free will; he knows what will happen. But, at the same time, God directs the history of salvation and does not allow man to oppose his plan or order. God saves his son so that during Christ’s earthly mission it would be another testimony that Jesus is the Savior. Everything that was said by the Lord through the prophet was fulfilled: “I called my son out of Egypt.” Herod wanted to visit Bethlehem not to worship the new king but to kill him and thus preserve his power. However, as it often happens in the story of Christmas, the story of the salvation of the human race, a person, such as Herod in this case, cannot accept God’s command, and Herod, in a rage, kills all the children in Bethlehem under the age of two. In today’s Sunday calendar, these Bethlehem children are remembered as martyrs — babies innocently killed in Bethlehem. They save humanity, given over to the further slavery of evil, and this sacrifice of their lives is in accordance with God’s will, so that the Saviour Jesus, the Son of God, the Messiah, fulfils his promise. Their mothers suffer, but they will later realise that they caused the fulfilment of God’s promise to the human race. Although no one realises this at the time, we also know that those who endure will become participants in the Passion of Christ, which will take place decades later.

And indeed, great works of the Lord our God. He is confident and entrusts Joseph with a very great mission: to take care of his son. To give him this life among people, in the family, so that he could fully take on our human nature. Joseph is distinguished by great trust in God and is ready to fulfil his request. We see Joseph in all the Gospels of the Christmas cycle. Joseph is an example for all parents to follow, and not only for parents but for those who are entrusted with the care of persons who are very dear to the Lord God. He is distinguished by action, not by words: trust in God, unshakeable hope. He is distinguished by the fact that he immediately fulfills God’s will. And we see that Joseph and Mary take a place next to Jesus as the main figures of the Christmas cycle.

The prophecies that were announced by the prophets in the Old Testament and prepared the people to know the person of the Messiah continue from the Christmas Feast. All feasts in our liturgical year are closely related. We repeat this cycle every year, and every year we reflect on and understand more deeply what it means for our salvation. In each of these feasts, we note that Jesus is present as the Son, embodied in our being, but God always acts through him in our lives.

The Gospel is not an accurate account of historical events; it is a signpost of God’s love for humanity, his patience with our weaknesses, his faithfulness to his word, and his mercy even to those who reject him. He calls us always, wants to lead everyone to salvation, and wants to share his happiness with us in his Kingdom.

See also

January 14 Homily by Fr. Peter Struk on the Sunday of Zacchaeus