Feast of the Holy Innocents
Scripture:
Reflection:
A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation. -Matthew 2:18
We celebrate the Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs, today. We are all aware of the brutal slaying of all the baby boys two years and under who lost their lives all because of a demonic king who acted maliciously in his attempt to kill Jesus and retain his kingship! Unbeknownst to Herod, Jesus, Mary and Joseph had been warned in a dream to flee to Egypt to escape the blood bath that was about to happen. It is so sad to see and hear how the innocent children in our midst today suffer unnecessary abuse and persecution. It seems no matter the situation, whether it is war, poverty, domestic abuse, bullying, the children are the ones who suffer!
It seems to be harder to be a believer these days when we are surrounded by so much uncertainty, violence, unhappiness, gloom and doom brought about by the King Herods of our time. We need to take time during this Christmas season to celebrate the birth of the newborn babe born in a lowly stable in Bethlehem. Maybe it’s time for us to reflect on the innocence of our own youth, however short or long ago it was, and get in touch again with the Believer in each of us. In this way just maybe the chaos that seems to color our world so much will cease to have so much power over us, and Jesus’s light can shine forth from us.
During this time of year we focus a lot on helping others whether it be food donations, toy drives, blanket collections and so many other ways to ease the plight of those in need. Wouldn’t it be nice if we had the opportunity to go a step further and take the time to get to know some of those we so generously helped through our donations. I am thinking more about the children who are suffering in so many ways in our neighborhoods, schools, churches, shelters, etc. Let us take time during this holy season and throughout the coming new year to spend time with the hurting children in our midst. Through these action steps we may just recapture some of that innocence of our youth and move forward in spreading the joy and hope of the innocent who can teach us what we have lost.
In the first reading from 1John today, we read: ‘God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.”
May we be people who birth the light of Jesus, willing to recapture the innocence of our past and celebrate the good news of that blessed event that happened so long ago in a stable in Bethlehem! Believe and rejoice!
Have a Blessed Christmas season and a healthy, holy New Year!
Theresa Secord is a retired Pastoral Associate at St. Agnes Parish, Louisville, Kentucky.