ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
December 28, 2022
Today is the Holy Day of the Innocents, the day the church remembers the youngest martyrs. It is the day on the church’s calendar to remember the children of Bethlehem who were murdered by Herod’s decree after he learned of a new king being born (Matthew 2:16). In reflecting on this day, it is important to remember the children of Myanmar, Afghanistan, Iraq, Mexico, Ukraine, Yemen, Ethiopia, and, of course, the children of the United States who die because of gun violence. The death of one child should be an outrage, yet the excuses and irrational rationalizations seem to make these deaths statistical necessities for some strangely conceived greater good. May the threat of violence that forced the Holy Family to flee as refugees to Egypt be for us a teaching moment that leaves us truly outraged and speaking collectively, “No more! Anywhere!”
Holy God, the Scriptures remain entirely relevant for another generation—a call for awareness and zealous action to make sure children are no longer forced to flee in the face of violence while others die. Amen.
