Right after we celebrate Christmas, our church recognizes three feast days in a row, representing the different people who honor Jesus at his birth. The day after Christmas is the feast of St. Stephen, a martyr in the early Church whom we can see as representing all who have sacrificed their lives for the faith. Next, we have the feast of John the Evangelist, who represents all the Church leaders who work tirelessly for our faith. Today, we celebrate and honor the Holy Innocents, children who were massacred by King Herod in Bethlehem when he had heard of Jesus' birth. Martyrs, church leaders, children: they all honor Jesus at his birth. The martyrs we commemorate show us how the cross, the sacrifice Christ made for our salvation, is an essential part of the message we hear at Christmas.
Luke 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 imagined weeping for her people forced into exile, as the parents of the children massacred at Bethlehem weep for their loss, what do we have to weep for today in our modern world? We see children and families suffering and torn apart by violence, and by alcohol and drug abuse. We see innocents killed by abortion. We see many in our world and in our own society go to bed hungry for lack of food to eat. We certainly have a lot to weep for ourselves.
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. How are we called to help proclaim this kingdom that is here already yet is still not fulfilled?
No comments:
Post a Comment