Feast of the Holy Innocents
In any war, there are no winners; all are losers. And many innocent people die in the crossfire. Today, we remember the children caught in a rather peculiar battle.
Herod wanted to kill the Baby Jesus because he felt threatened by His birth and the prophecies linked to Him. Herod was ready and willing to sacrifice other people’s lives to keep his grip on the throne. Such madness! Such evil!
But Herod represents US WHEN WE PUT PEOPLE IN DANGER IN OUR PURSUIT OF OUR SELFISH AGENDA. Some of us are willing to victimize on others for personal gains, and many are unwilling victims.
Today, LET US REMEMBER PEOPLE WE SACRIFICED FOR OUR SELF-GLORIFICATION. While we beg for forgiveness, LET US SET ARIGHT WHATEVER WE HAVE RENDERED WRONG.
Christmas is not about sacrificing others for the self. IT IS ABOUT SACRIFICING THE SELF FOR OTHERS INSTEAD. As we linger by the Christmas crèche, we see Jesus who comes as a sacrificial lamb, lying in a manger, like food for the beasts. Christmas should remind us that we are called to sacrifice our selves for others, to die to our selves so that others may live.
The Holy Innocents who died thousands of years ago – because of a king whose love for power turned him into a bloodthirsty dog – continue crying today. They are the aborted infants, the abandoned babies, the children caught in crossfires, the boys and girls who are exploited in many horrific ways, as well as those who though no longer young are nonetheless oppressed, abused, and rejected. Their cries pierce our hearts. We cannot but be disturbed so as to act on their behalf.
Please, DON'T CELEBRATE NIÑOS INOCENTES DAY BY PULLING A PRANK ON SOMEONE. Rather, resolve to stand with and for those caught in the crossfire between good and evil. Shield them from death's blows. NOT AGAIN SHOULD THE INNOCENT DIE. NO ONE, IN FACT, DESERVES TO DIE IN THE HANDS OF MODERN-DAY HERODS OR IN ANYBODY'S HANDS, FOR THAT MATTER.
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