Festival of the Holy Innocents
Posted on December 28, 2021 by under
Scripture: St Matthew 2:13-18 (NKJV)
2:13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.”
14 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:
18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”
Devotion
Historical accounts show Herod was a wicked, spiteful, self-important ruler. These children were not guilty of any crime against this ruler or the civil order, but in his petty hatred and cowardice he had them killed. They were killed because evil people thought they could protect their sense of power and control, even as such wicked men thought they could overcome God and His will.
Herod heard the Word of God about the Christ, but He didn’t care. The Word of God also says to our society, “You shall not murder,” yet selfish people still kill children in their rebellion against God. Spiteful cowards still are murderers as they hate their brothers (1 John 3:15). We all hear the Word of God, but sin makes us act as if we don’t care either.
God cannot be defeated by the efforts of men. His will shall be accomplished, just as Christ was saved from Herod. Our Savior still returned to the land of His people and was lifted up as their King, even if it was on the holy cross. Herod died and faced judgment, and he is remembered only as a horrible man. The children who were murdered are remembered as martyrs who died on account of God’s Word. The whole story reminds us that the power of vain men is not greater than God’s power; and those who seem helpless are not entirely helpless, because God is merciful and almighty. The Gospel of Christ our King is the help and life of all who are humble and faithful in Him.
Prayer: O God, whose praise the martyred Innocents confessed, not by speaking, but by dying; destroy in us all wickedness, that our life may proclaim the faith in word and deed, through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord: Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that the new Birth of Thine Only-Begotten Son in the flesh may set us free who are held in the old bondage under the yoke of sin; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
