Holy Innocents

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asylum, help, Herod, Matthew, migrants, refugees, suffering, The Holy Innocents, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Today Christians mark the massacre of all boy babies in Bethlehem under the age of two years by King Herod. The story is told in Matthew’s gospel (2: 1-18). Herod was afraid of losing the power of his kingdom when he heard of the birth of Jesus from the astrologers from the East who came seeking “the newborn King.” His solution was the massacre, certain that Jesus would be among the slain children.

I cannot help seeing in my mind pictures of the southern border of the United States where in our day families are seeking asylum from the dangers in their own countries. The situation is dire, reminiscent of Matthew’s report that “a voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children.” (MT 2:18)

Let us pray for these “holy innocents” today and continue to call our government officials to right the wrong that has been done to them and their families. Each of us must ask ourselves: “What is one thing I can do in this crisis that will alleviate the suffering?” and then do it. We cannot all go to the border to work among the refugees, but we can and must do something to make our voices be heard. Let us not wait but rather act for those who have no means to help themselves.

The Cry of Ramah

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babies, justice, The Holy Innocents, The King of Peace, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

At our house we’ve recently received a number of birth notifications and Christmas cards from families and friends that feature pictures of beautiful children. We have remarked that the newborns seem quite alert – even in their first weeks of life. There is a quality in their eyes that seems to hold a question or a knowing of something deeper than just “here I am.” We wonder how they will navigate the world that they have been born into, a much different place from when I arrived.

Today is the feast of The Holy Innocents, those children under 2 years of age who were massacred by Herod, an insecure despot, upon hearing of the birth of “the newborn king of the Jews.” I am saddened when I see images of mothers with their babies on their backs or entire families fleeing for their lives from countries – especially now in Central America – where violence is the order of the day. Has nothing changed since “the King of Peace” has come to us? Can we find new or more efficacious ways to welcome the stranger? What is the light we can shine on the atrocities happening at our borders and even in our own cities? Can we not hear the cries for justice?