The Seasons: A Poem

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Sunrise over Amazing Grasses Family Farm The mad Artist wields His brush, Painted colors rush, To life and give flush, Before the quiet autumn hush. The life seems to pour, As colors fall to the floor, To be seen no more, Outside the dark, grey door. Brightness from below, Sun upon the snow, High, cold clouds blow, Flakes and ice appear to grow. The man melts with little seen, Underneath, pale, grey green, Hides life in dark unseen, Waits for warmth and to careen. Buds on branches show, Patience starts to grow, Trickles, streams and veins flow, Bringing fruits of melted snow. Sprung to life it springs, Bees, birds, sound rings, Lush green flings, Its gift bounty brings. Green growth gives one last rush, Underneath the Painter's brush. The mad Artist wields His brush, before the quiet autumn hush. More poetry is available from James M. Hahn in  The Last Dragon and Other Poems  available now. My new book of cryptogram puzzles " Secret Messages from the Saints " is avai
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Why do Bad Things Happen to Good People

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Feast of the Holy Innocents

My initial thought upon reading the Gospel today was, once again, why does God allow such a horrible thing to happen? Why didn't He warn all the fathers in Bethlehem? Why didn't He prompt Joseph to sound a warning? Why didn't He cause the soldiers dispatched to Bethlehem to lose their way or be visited by angels like the shepherds? Why didn't He cause Herod to convert, have a stroke, or even be still-born?

But, of course I could take this line of questioning back generation upon generation and ask why He didn't just stop Eve from eating the fruit or simply annihilate the Serpent with a glance? I've addressed these questions elsewhere with my humble answer but it is a question I will ponder until my last breath even when I think I know the answer, "why do bad things happen to good people".

Today's Feast of the Holy Innocents certainly prompts that question. Who can be more innocent than a child under 2 years of age? However, perhaps God allowed this to happen not so that we would question His love, but so that we might clearly see Satan's hate. You and I are loved more than we can ever imagine, but we are also hated. We often forget that. We have an enemy. His hate and rage knows no limits be it the slaughter of a few dozen innocent children in Bethlehem or millions in concentration camps in Germany and Poland. 

The first reading, from the First Letter of St. John, reaffirms this fact. He tells us that following Christ (even into the desert of Egypt or to the Cross) brings us truth, light, and fellowship with God. Following sin and Satan brings us darkness, deception, and loss of friendship with God.

When bad things happen to us, it hurts. When we see bad things happen to innocent people, it hurts. We pour forth ...sobbing and loud lamentation with Rachel weeping for her children.. Yet we trust in Lord, through this pain, that all things work for good for those who love God (Rom 8:28). We trust, and keep our eyes on Him knowing that this life is transitory. It is not our destiny. It is not our final resting place. It is truly a pilgrimage filled with joy, suffering, wonder, pain, miracles, war, ecstasy, darkness, light, and so much more but the greatest of these is love. His love is constant and never wavering; like rays of light that never end and cannot be blocked out completely. It is we who cast shadows by our doubt and lack of trust. So, let us mourn with Rachel, leap for joy with John, and trust with Joseph. For there is a time for everything on this short pilgrimage of life, but let us make the love of the Lord our foundation and footpath through it.

Something Else to Consider

This Gospel passage must also call to mind an overarching message from Matthew that is carried throughout his Gospel: Jesus is the new Moses.

God spoke to the Old Testament Joseph in dreams and those dreams helped save his family. (Gen 37:6-7)
The New Testament Joseph is also given a dream that helps save his family. (Matt 2:13)

Moses is born during a time when baby boys were to be killed under order of Pharaoh. (Exodus 1:16)
Jesus is born and threatened to be killed by Herod. (Matt 2:13)

Moses is whisked away and saved from the threat. (Exodus 2:3)
Jesus is whisked away and saved from the threat. (Matt 2:14)

Moses is called out of Egypt into the desert in order to prepare him to lead the physical Exodus out of Egypt. (Exodus 3)
Jesus is called out of Egypt (as a child when the threat had passed) into the desert (as an adult) for 40 days to prepare Him to lead the Exodus out of spiritual Egypt (slavery to sin). (Matt 2:19-21, 4:1, Luke 9:30-31)

I highly recommend that you make reading the Gospel of Matthew a part of your New Year's resolution with these similarities in mind. There are far more than I can name here.


My new book of cryptogram puzzles "Secret Messages from the Saints" is available now.
  
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