Right after we celebrate Christmas, our church recognizes three feast days in a row. The day after Christmas is the feast of St. Stephen, a martyr in the early Church. Yesterday, we have the feast of St John the Evangelist, who was also one of the original apostles. Today, we celebrate and honor the Holy Innocents, children who were massacred by King Herod in Bethlehem when he had heard of Jesus' birth.
Matthew’s Gospel tells us about the massacre of the holy innocents as part of the story of the Magi, quoting 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, the patriarch of the people of Israel, as weeping at the place where the Israelites were led by the conquering Assyrians for their march to Babylon. As Rachel is depicted weeping for her people forced into exile, as the parents of the children massacred at Bethlehem weep for their loss, we have a lot to weep for in our modern world. There are many innocent victims of crime and violence who suffer each day.
Yet, while the prophet Jeremiah calls for weeping, he also brings a message of hope and liberation to the people of Israel forced into exile. Herod's actions were brutal and painful, but they weren't the final word. God gives us hope in the birth of Christ. Through Jesus, God proclaims his kingdom and promises us salvation. May we in our words and actions help proclaim God’s kingdom and work towards the values of God’s kingdom each day.
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