In venerating the Holy Innocents, we recognize the terrible evil that people are capable of inflicting on others
Reflections on the readings for the Feast of the Holy Innocents (December 28, 2021):1 JN 1-2:2; PS 124:2-3,4-5,7-8; MT 2:13-18
MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
We embrace the great goodness of Almighty God in sending His Son for our redemption.
We commemorate the martyrdom of the Holy Innocents today. They were condemned to death by a wicked king determined to murder the Holy Infant he feared would replace him as King of the Jews. This was, in fact, Jesus Christ the King of the Universe. This horrific event, recounted only in the Gospel according to St. Matthew, comes as something of a shock after the joy and peace we celebrate with the birth of Jesus on Christmas. The whole beautiful story of His Nativity often includes the coming of the Magi, the three kings. Indeed, we will hear that account more fully in just a few days as we rejoice in the Feast of the Epiphany. But for now, we focus on the aftermath when King Herod’s wrath and jealousy led to such appalling consequences. “He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years and under. … 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” (Matthew 2:16-18).
We can not imagine the suffering of the parents who witnessed their precious children being slaughtered. They could not understand that Herod was so afraid of the long-awaited Messiah of the Jewish people that he was capable of destroying these Holy Innocents -- just to be sure. We know God sent an angel to direct St. Joseph to take Jesus and His Blessed Mother to the safety of Egypt. So the Son of God and of Mary was able to live and grow and eventually return to complete His mission. Some thirty or so years later, Jesus would join the fate of those born in the City of David when He was. He, too, died by the violent, evil plans of those in power. Above His head on that cross was a sign proclaiming what Herod had feared: that Jesus was the “King of the Jews” -- although not in the way anyone had ever imagined. With the sacrifice of His life, our Lord achieved the salvation of the world, including those forced to die in His place and whom we commemorate today, those who were holy and innocent and the rest of us as well.
