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Gospel: Matthew 2: 13-18
When the magi had departed, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said,
“Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt,
and stay there until I tell you.
Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.”
Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night
and departed for Egypt.
He stayed there until the death of Herod,
that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled,
Out of Egypt I called my son.
When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi,
he became furious.
He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity
two years old and under,
in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi.
Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet:
A voice was heard in Ramah,
sobbing and loud lamentation;
Rachel weeping for her children,
and she would not be consoled,
since they were no more.
The Gospel of the Lord.
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Today’s feast is jarring – the Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs.
We remember all those infants murdered by King Herod in his ruthless search for the infant Jesus. It’s hard to imagine a king issuing a death warrant for children, but some will do anything to stay in power, as we still see today.
This feast reminds us that there’s both light and darkness, good and evil, at work in our world, causing both joy and sorrow at Christmas.
While Jesus survived Herod’s wrath that year, many innocent children didn’t.
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This Gospel passage always makes me more sensitive to the suffering of others, who’ve tasted more sorrow than joy this holiday season.
I think of those who struggle with either a physical or mental illness; those who work double-shifts to put bread on the table; those who’ve lost someone they love, particularly parents who’ve lost a child like the parents – real people – in today’s Gospel.
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While I hope we’ve experienced something joyful this Christmas season, we should also remember those who’ve struggled. May we help to shoulder their burdens; dry their tears; break their isolation; and come to their aid.
Think of some way to be the “light” where there is darkness.
Holy Innocents, pray for us.
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Image credits: (1) The Holy Innocents, Blisswood (2) Salisbury Catholic Churches (3) The Feller Family