Innocent Little Ones

~~~ Feast of the Holy Innocents ~~~

 

~~~ 1John 1:5-2:2 ~~~ Psalm 124 ~~~ Matthew 2:13-18 ~~~

 

In Herod's twisted possessed mind he orders

the slaughter of young males under two years of age.

He was so focused on ridding the world of light

that he was driven to kill innocent children.

He was willing to deprive them of life

in an attempt to save his place of power.

 

These little children died in place of Jesus.

 

This month we have seen innocent little children

die at the hands of a single evil person.

This person was not trying to protect his place of power

for the only power he had was to choose good over evil...

and he failed the test.

 

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.

 

How could little children pose a threat to anyone then or now?

 

The wise men listened to what they had heard in a dream.

They were participants in protecting the Christ child while

unknowingly participating in the death of the innocent boys.

 

Today is a gloomy wintry day where I am.

Thick clouds obscure what should be the bright sunlight.

The cloudy skies could drop down rain at any moment,

but the tree outside my window is adorned with tiny little buds.

New growth is waiting to burst forth.

So it is so often in life.

 

Amidst the terrible deaths of so many baby boys one

life was spared. This one young life would go on to save

the lives of humanity.

 

 

 

Today we remember the many whose blood was shed for one;

the one whose blood would be shed for many. 

 

Jesus says unless we become like little children

we cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Little children carry with them the light of God.

They are free from living in darkness.

They are free from the darkness of sin.

They quickly feel at home in the presence of God.

Their little souls rejoice in the Lord.

Heaven is where their hearts belong.

 

There are some things that we cannot escape; today we are faced with

one...sometimes innocent children are killed.

The children are joyful in heaven as the parents

are left to mourn burdened with the weight of unanswered questions.

 

I am reminded of Psalm 30:6

All night there are tears,

but joy comes with the dawn.

 

I pray especially today for those parents who have lost

a child. I pray that their joy will someday be restored.