Word to the Wise
Thursday, December 28, 2017 - Dec. 28 - The Holy Innocents, martyrs
[1 John 1:5-2:2 and Matt 2:13-18]"Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him." [Matthew]
The celebration of the feast of the Holy Innocents requires us to fast-forward a bit to just after the visit of the Magi which we will not celebrate for a week or so. However, the feast underlines the reaction of powerful people who feel threatened. Herod was paranoid had put his own family members to death and anyone else who got in his way. The Magi came with the best of intentions but their inquiry launched Herod's murderous rage to eliminate anyone who might be called "king."
The killing of the innocent is sadly all around us either in abortion or in the seemingly incessant wars in the Middle East or anywhere political violence is common. In celebrating this feast we pray for all innocent victims who suffer from the passions or the indifference of others who are threatened in some way or who desire to have power. Innocent people are being destroyed in gun violence at an alarming rate in our own country. Elective abortion destroys innocent life every day. Our prayers and any efforts we can do to stem the tide of all violence against the innocent are important. This feast reminds us of this. AMEN