The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 John 1:5-2:2
Psalm 124:2-3, 4-5, 7cd-8
Matthew 2:13-18

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Today we celebrate the feast of the Holy Innocents, the first martyrs for Christ. Since then there have been countless additional martyrs, but these first ones were unique. There is no way of knowing how many children were sacrificed in this terrible brutality. While it seems so senseless, what are we to learn from it? It is in learning that some of the tragedy is offset.

These innocent children did not know Jesus, His message or His gift to us through death on the cross; but they sacrificed all they had. Their deaths came from the power of a ruthless, hateful ruler who would stop at nothing to save his power and position. Their eternal life came from the power of our compassionate, loving King who also, would stop at nothing to save His people and give them eternal life. The contrast is striking. These little ones lost their lives at the hands of a terrible man only to be received into the arms of a wonderful Savior.

Jesus says much later in His life on earth that we are to be as little children. What does this mean? We should be innocent, trusting, loving, and, like the youngest of children, extremely dependent -- dependent on the care of a loving Father who provides for us -- for all eternity.

While it seems a terrible and senseless loss, accompanied by an unfathomable amount of suffering on the part of the parents of these small ones, it shows us where true power lies in this universe and where we can truly find the caring love we need as small, needy and dependent beings under the care of a just King.

- Don Claunch, SFO
(dlclaunch at bresnan dot net)

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