Reflection on Matthew 2:13-18 (The Holy Innocents, Martyrs)

The Holy Innocents, Martyrs

Matthew 2:13-18

¹³Now after [the wise men] had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” ¹⁴Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, ¹⁵and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.”

  ¹⁶When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. ¹⁷Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:
 ¹⁸“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.”  

 

As people continue to return back to work from their Christmas vacations and return gifts that were not needed from Christmas celebrations, it is easily overlooked.  Even the leadership of the church rests from its planning and celebrations, and easily forgets to look at the date on the calendar.

But, if we were to look at the calendar, we would see that today is a holiday too.  It is not as largely recognized as the church’s Christmas celebration, or even the secular New Year celebration which is fast approaching.  In fact, the holiday is as overlooked as those who are remembered on this day.

I encourage you to not forget that today is the remembrance of The Holy Innocents, Martyrs.  I encourage you to take a moment of prayer and recognition, so that you will not forget.  After-all, God did not forget.

When Herod rallied the forces of government around his lusting desire to hold onto power, it was the children who suffered.  It is always the children who suffer…who are forgotten.  The Bible says that “all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men,” were killed in Herod’s hunt for the newborn king.  God whisked Jesus away from this slaughter to the safety of Egypt so that his life may be lived to its fullest until the government finally catches up to him and also puts him to death on a cross. 

But, in all of that drama between the powers of heaven and earth, children were lost.  Toddlers learning taking their first steps were cut down.  Infants were ripped from mother’s arms and thrown into the waters to take their last breaths.  It is always the children who suffer…who are forgotten.  But, God did not forget.  The anguish is right in Holy Scripture. The words of terror are burned into the pages.  God never wants us to forget.  We are never to forget the innocent victims from ancient times, and we certainly are not to forget the innocent victims of our times.  That is why we have this holiday in the Christmas season, so that we never forget!

So, today we do not forget the children ripped from parent’s arms.  We do not forget the children who suffer hunger, thirst, and death as they are left, abandoned.  We do not forget the children who are forced into fighting wars, and dying adult deaths with adult weapons in their little arms.  We do not forget the children who are different, and because they are different, they are driven to self-harm.  We do not forget the children.  We do not forget the Holy Innocents.  We do not forget the governments, and cultures, and powers that drive us to forget them, labeling them as “collateral damage.”  We are God’s people, and we do not forget.

Child of God and follower of Jesus Christ, do not do as the world does on this day.  Do not forget the Holy Innocents.  Do not be lulled by the powers that would brush them off as forgotten and unimportant.  Do not be convinced that action need not be taken.  We do not forget, because God does not forget.