Depending
on where in the world you live, yesterday, today, or tomorrow is the
Commemoration of the Holy Innocents, the day we remember the infant boys of
Bethlehem killed on the orders of Herod the Great.
Luke
brings together the testimony of Mary’s relatives, Joseph’s family, and the
shepherds to demonstrate that the people of Bethlehem, who were fiercely proud
of their historical connection to King David, embraced Jesus’ family. Matthew
tells us the price they paid when that family came to Herod’s attention, and
the entire town refused to bring forward any information as to their flight to
Egypt.
This
is the story of a community of resistance. Some doubt its historicity, consider
it propaganda. But it is reliably historical – and, indeed, has been so,
repeated many times over.
On
these of all days, we remember before God all children caught up in conflict,
and cry, how long, O Lord?
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