The Forgotten Martyrs:
The Festival of the Holy Innocents
As the Church prepares for the Advent of her Lord in His nativity, she awaits with joy and gladness the birth of the “King who comes to save us” (Matins). The placing of the newborn Christ-child, wrapped in swaddling clothes, into the lowly manger is met with such pious mirth that all sorrow and sighing flee away. And this is good in the sight of the Lord! Rejoice in the birth of our Savior! Even the heavens spill over in joy that Christmas Day; And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!” (Lk 2:13-14).
But the reality of this world and the purpose in His coming are brought into sharp relief in the days following Christmas. The Church remembers St Stephen, first martyr on December 26, St John, who was exiled for the Gospel and died alone, on December 27, and the forgotten martyrs, the slaughter of the holy innocents is remembered on December 28. John died a natural death; the only one of the apostles to do so. Stephen was murdered shortly after our Lord’s ascension into heaven. His martyrdom is recorded with great detail in Acts 7. Both their lives and their deaths confess the reality of Christ’s own death and resurrection for our salvation.
But the cruel and wicked murder of the holy innocents is senseless brutality! Then Herod, when he saw that had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and all in that region who were two years old and under (Mt 2:16). The murderous rage of the despotic king was meted out upon infants and toddlers! In his personal lust for power and freedom, he took the lives of children. God grant that in our day we may defend such innocents from the same wicked brutality!
These little ones are called “innocent” not because they were without sin. Behold, I was brought for in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me (Ps 51:5); and There is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rm 3:22, 23). They are innocent because the had done nothing worthy of death. They had committed no crime, had not broken any laws, but were merely the object of Herod’s devilish hatred. Their lives were inconvenient to those in power.
Notice, however, they are also called “holy.” They are holy for the same reason that you are a saint – by grace through faith in Christ Jesus. These little ones, these infants and toddlers had faith in the Christchild, the One placed in the manger, the same One whose miraculous birth you celebrated three days previous! And faith is enough. Sola fide. Faith is sufficient for salvation. It grabs hold of Christ and His merit and mercy. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God (2 Cor 3:5).
Thus the commemoration of these holy innocents just three days after the celebration of Jesus’ birth serves to remind us not only of the terrible brutality of which humans are capable, but more significantly of the persecution Jesus endured from the beginning of His earthy life. Although His life was providentially spared at this time, many years later, another ruler, Pontius Pilate, would sentence the Holy Innocent to death. And His death gives meaning to the death of Stephen, John, the holy innocents, and all who die holding the faith of these martyrs.
The Church remembers them. Therefore they are not forgotten. Tragic though they may be, their deaths were not in vain. For with the death of Christ our Lord death is undone. Death is swallow up in victory. O death, where is your victory, o death, where is your sting. The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor 15:55-57).
Let us pray: “Almighty God, the martyred innocents of Bethlehem showed forth Your praise not by speaking but by dying. Put to death in us all that is in conflict with Your will that our loves may bear witness to the faith we profess with our lips; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.”
+INJ+
Pastor Mierow
The Festival of the Holy Innocents
As the Church prepares for the Advent of her Lord in His nativity, she awaits with joy and gladness the birth of the “King who comes to save us” (Matins). The placing of the newborn Christ-child, wrapped in swaddling clothes, into the lowly manger is met with such pious mirth that all sorrow and sighing flee away. And this is good in the sight of the Lord! Rejoice in the birth of our Savior! Even the heavens spill over in joy that Christmas Day; And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!” (Lk 2:13-14).
But the reality of this world and the purpose in His coming are brought into sharp relief in the days following Christmas. The Church remembers St Stephen, first martyr on December 26, St John, who was exiled for the Gospel and died alone, on December 27, and the forgotten martyrs, the slaughter of the holy innocents is remembered on December 28. John died a natural death; the only one of the apostles to do so. Stephen was murdered shortly after our Lord’s ascension into heaven. His martyrdom is recorded with great detail in Acts 7. Both their lives and their deaths confess the reality of Christ’s own death and resurrection for our salvation.
But the cruel and wicked murder of the holy innocents is senseless brutality! Then Herod, when he saw that had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and all in that region who were two years old and under (Mt 2:16). The murderous rage of the despotic king was meted out upon infants and toddlers! In his personal lust for power and freedom, he took the lives of children. God grant that in our day we may defend such innocents from the same wicked brutality!
These little ones are called “innocent” not because they were without sin. Behold, I was brought for in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me (Ps 51:5); and There is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rm 3:22, 23). They are innocent because the had done nothing worthy of death. They had committed no crime, had not broken any laws, but were merely the object of Herod’s devilish hatred. Their lives were inconvenient to those in power.
Notice, however, they are also called “holy.” They are holy for the same reason that you are a saint – by grace through faith in Christ Jesus. These little ones, these infants and toddlers had faith in the Christchild, the One placed in the manger, the same One whose miraculous birth you celebrated three days previous! And faith is enough. Sola fide. Faith is sufficient for salvation. It grabs hold of Christ and His merit and mercy. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God (2 Cor 3:5).
Thus the commemoration of these holy innocents just three days after the celebration of Jesus’ birth serves to remind us not only of the terrible brutality of which humans are capable, but more significantly of the persecution Jesus endured from the beginning of His earthy life. Although His life was providentially spared at this time, many years later, another ruler, Pontius Pilate, would sentence the Holy Innocent to death. And His death gives meaning to the death of Stephen, John, the holy innocents, and all who die holding the faith of these martyrs.
The Church remembers them. Therefore they are not forgotten. Tragic though they may be, their deaths were not in vain. For with the death of Christ our Lord death is undone. Death is swallow up in victory. O death, where is your victory, o death, where is your sting. The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor 15:55-57).
Let us pray: “Almighty God, the martyred innocents of Bethlehem showed forth Your praise not by speaking but by dying. Put to death in us all that is in conflict with Your will that our loves may bear witness to the faith we profess with our lips; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.”
+INJ+
Pastor Mierow
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