Right after we celebrate Christmas, our Church recognizes 3 feast days in a row, representing the people from different walks of life who worshipped and honored Jesus at his birth. The day after Christmas is the feast of St. Stephen, a martyr in the early Church. Because his feast day falls on Sunday, we do not celebrate his feast day this year. When we think of St Stephen, we can remember all the faithful who have sacrificed and given their lives for our faith. Next, we have the feast of John the Evangelist. Like John, there have been many other Church leaders throughout history who worked tirelessly for the faith. Today, we honor the Holy Innocents, children who were massacred by King Herod in Bethlehem when he heard of Jesus' birth. Martyrs, church leaders, and children: they all honor Jesus at his birth. As we recognize the holy innocents today, we remember all who died for our faith, showing us how the shadow of the cross, the sacrifice Christ made for our salvation, is an essential part of the message we hear this Christmas season.
In today’s Gospel, Matthew tells us about the massacre of the holy innocents as part of the story of the Magi. Matthews quotes the prophet Jeremiah: “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.” Jeremiah portrays Rachel, the wife of Jacob, as weeping at the place where the Israelites were herded together by the conquering Assyrians at their march into exile in Babylon. As Rachel is portrayed weeping for her people forced into exile, as the parents of the children massacred at Bethlehem weep for their loss, we may think of those things we weep for today: neighborhoods torn apart by violence, the destruction of the environment, homelessness, families whose lives are torn apart by additions. We have a lot to weep for ourselves.
Yet, we also hear a message of hope and liberation as the people of Israel are forced into exile. Herod's actions were violent and painful, but they were not the final word. God gives us hope with the birth of Christ which we celebrate during this holy season of Christmas. Through Jesus’ birth into our world, God proclaims his kingdom and promises us salvation. We also are called to help proclaim the kingdom of God that is here already yet is still not fulfilled.
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