Holy Innocents, Dec.28th. Lectionary #698.

Scripture:Lectionary 698. I John 1:5-2:2. Psalm 124:2-3,4-5.7-8. Matthew 2:13-18: There is much exegetical questioning about the slaying of the Holy Innocents. No matter how few the number is or how great it is the fact that innocent lives were taken by a cruel threatened puppet king of the line of Herod their lives are most precious in the sight of God and merit our remembering them as witnesses to Jesus. His life was proteected by Joseph as he fled with Mary to Egypt. Matthew then is able to reflect after the event by saying "He was called out of Egypt" to return to his homeland and little village of Nazareth. We commemorate these children under two years of age as martyrs or witnesses to the newborn king of the Jews, Jesus the Messiah. Our reading from I John shows us the importance of freedom from sin or a state of innocence. The children are the "little ones" whose angels stand before the face of God. Jesus affirms them later in his life by saying the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater even than John the Baptist. We need to see in the Scriptures the value of every stage of human life because it is destined to be present to God in eternity. We believe that all innocent ones who die are with God and they have in God's plan helped to fulfill salvation history through witnessing silently to Jesus. "No greater love does one have than to lay down one's life for one's friends." The Scriptures are not interested in cultures of death or violence which contradict the plan of God who so loved the world he gave his only son. We cry out therefore with the Psalm,"Our help is in the name of the Lord." This is the outcry of the Holy Innocents as they enter what we long for---heaven and union with God our creator. Amen.