Page:LittleBookOfTheMostHolyChildJesus.djvu/54

 men, robbers who make the traveller their prey.

Why is that tender brought from home, from the land of His birth, out into this desert place?

Herod, the king, seeks to kill Him.

He who is of heaven and earth, Creator and King of angels and of men, was called 'King of the Jews' by the wise men.

Herod the king is jealous. He is in fear of this little. He seeks to slay the.

That He may not escape, he orders all the little ones of Bethlehem to die.

This little has come into the world to save His people; and not only has He not where to lay His head, but they seek to take His tender life with cruel sword.

So it is that, far away across that desert, where of old His people Israel wandered, He has to flee with Mary and Joseph into the strange dark land of Egypt.