4-5-2024

Good Morning All,

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

    This is a verse that refers to what the Church calls “The Slaughter of the Innocents.”  This is where Herod, in a fit of anger and rage, tried to kill the king that the Magi sought.  When King Herod realized that the Magi weren’t going to return to tell him where Jesus was, he thought he would solve the question by killing all the male children 2 years and younger.  This event is commemorated on the first Sunday after Christmas as the day of the “Holy Innocents.”

    Much lore has been built around this event.  Scholars have no real clue as to the number of children who were killed, most guess 20 or less not the hundreds or even thousands that some legends portend.  Many also read this story and assume that Jesus was about 2 years old when the Magi came to visit.  This is possible but not for sure; the fact that he had the male children who were 2 and under, may have simply showed how cruel King Herod truly was.  We don’t know a lot about this event, but it serves a purpose.

    First this story points to the very clear fact that Jesus laid aside his power and glory to live the humblest of lives.  He was endangered from hatred of others from his birth on.  We also see God’s protective and loving arm keeping Jesus and his parents safe from harm.  We also see an event that shows just how painful and evil some events in this sinful and broken world can be.  What can be crueler than to yank a baby from a mother’s arms and run them through with a sword?  Is this right or fair? No, but our life in a sinful world is rarely fair but often painful.

    It becomes very clear here that we cannot ever understand everything in life.  In fact, we actually understand very little.  Yet God does not call us to know everything; God calls us to have faith, to live in faith.  We can never fully understand all that occurs or how it interacts; only God can fully comprehend life.  We can only trust that God, who is by nature loving, to provide for us.  God works to good for all those who love him and whom he has called for his purpose.  This ultimate good is our salvation.  Even if the world takes all of our earthly goods, even if we surrender our life, God has promised to save his children and then to keep us comforted with this knowledge that nothing will ever separate us from God’s love.  We are always safe in God’s protective arms.

Father of all mercy, there are so many things that we do not understand.  Help us to keep them from hurting our faith. Keep us steadfast in our desire to trust you.  Guide us by your light and strengthen us by your Spirit that we may remain faithful to you.  Help us to always trust in your promises.  Be with those who are like Rachel and weeping without hope.  Bring them the certainty of their salvation which is Jesus.  In his precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret