Word to the Wise
Wednesday, December 29, 2010 - The Holy Innocents - martyrs
[1 John 1:5 - 2:2 and Matthew 2:13-18]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]
Both "infancy narratives" - Matthew and Luke - are really "mini-gospels" and contain the entire gospel message in various ways. One aspect of the gospel story that is included in both is a reminder that Jesus' would be rejected and subject to violence. In Luke this comes in the form of the prophecy of Simeon who tells Mary and Joseph that their child would be a sign of contradiction and also that Mary would suffer as well. In Matthew, it is the effort of Herod to destroy the child. The story parallels the story of Moses' birth and childhood as well. (Exodus 1]
I cannot help but reflect on the terrible toll that violence against children takes each day in our world! The smallest and most vulnerable of humans must suffer because of the political, economic, sexual or other distorted needs of adults. Whether it be abortion, slavery, sexual exploitation or physical harm in the domestic home - it is all a terrible sin. Herod's concern was political. He wished to eliminate any competitor!
On the local level any effort we can make to prevent abuse of children in any form is a deed of grace (provided we don't multiply violence in doing this!). The Lord's own welcome of children should be our model. The Holy Innocents can remind us that the problem may be ancient but it is still there and requires us to work against it! AMEN
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