The Holy Innocents

Martyrs of Bethlehem · Feast: 28 December

The Holy Innocents
William Holman Hunt, The Triumph of the Innocents, oil on canvas, 1870–1903, Harvard Art Museums (Fogg Museum), Cambridge, Massachusetts. On the flight into Egypt, the Holy Family is accompanied by the spirits of the slain children of Bethlehem. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
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Word for the day

“A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.” Matthew 2:18

Life

When the Magi did not return to tell him where the newborn King of the Jews was, King Herod, fearing for his throne, ordered the killing of all the boys in Bethlehem and its surroundings who were two years old or under (Matthew 2:16).

Joseph, warned in a dream, had already fled with the child and His mother to Egypt. Matthew sees in the mothers' grief the fulfilment of Jeremiah's words about Rachel weeping for her children.

From early centuries the Church has honoured these children as martyrs, because they died in place of Christ. Herod's cruelty is well known from history; Bethlehem was a small town, and the number of children killed may have been small, but each one was precious to God. In the Syro-Malabar Church the day is kept as Holy Childhood Day.

Lessons

Every child is precious

God cares for each little one.

Protect the innocent

We are called to be Josephs, not Herods.

God hears the cry

Rachel's tears are not ignored.

Stories

The flight into Egypt (history)

An angel told Joseph in a dream to take the child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and he left that very night (Matthew 2:13–14).

Herod's cruelty (history)

The historian Josephus describes Herod as a ruler who killed even members of his own family to protect his throne, which fits Matthew's account.

Homily

1. Martyrs before they could speak

They died in Christ's place.

2. Rachel weeping

God hears the grief of parents.

3. Protect the little ones

Children in danger today.

Dear friends, three days after Christmas we remember the little boys of Bethlehem killed by Herod. They could not speak, but the Church honours them as martyrs, because they died in place of Christ.

Matthew hears in the mothers' cry the voice of Rachel weeping for her children (Matthew 2:18). God hears that cry. Let us pray today for parents who have lost children.

Herod's fear made him cruel. There are still Herods: those who sacrifice children to protect their power or comfort. Children today suffer from abortion, abuse, hunger, war and exploitation.

Let us be like Joseph, who rose in the night to protect the child. Let us make our homes and parishes safe for children, and support those who care for children in need. Amen.

Prayer

O God, the Holy Innocents bore witness to you not by speaking but by dying; grant that we may protect every child and bear witness to you by our lives. Amen.