5th Day of Christmas: Feast of the Holy Innocents

Today's Scripture Readings

Jeremiah 31:15-17 (NRSV)

Thus says the LORD:

A voice is heard in Ramah,

lamentation and bitter weeping.

Rachel is weeping for her children;

she refuses to be comforted for her children,

because they are no more.

Thus says the LORD:

Keep your voice from weeping,

and your eyes from tears;

for there is a reward for your work,

says the LORD:

they shall come back from the land of the enemy;

there is hope for your future,

says the LORD:

your children shall come back to their own country.

Psalm 124 (BCP., p.781).


Revelation 21:1-7 (NRSV)
 

I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

"See, the home of God is among mortals.

He will dwell with them as their God;

they will be his peoples,

and God himself will be with them;

he will wipe every tear from their eyes.

Death will be no more;

mourning and crying and pain will be no more,

for the first things have passed away."

And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true." Then he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. Those who conquer will inherit these things, and I will be their God and they will be my children.

Matthew 2:13-17 (NRSV)

When the wise men had departed, 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." Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and 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."

When 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. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:

"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."

Blog Reflection

If you are reading this blog post today, and you are someone who has ever wondered what in the world is so great about this Christianity thing; this Feast is just for you.

If you feel like you have been a good believer in God, and you just do not understand why there is still so much violence, anger, hate and oppression in the world; this Feast day is for you.

If you are someone who had an experience during the Christmas holiday in which your heart was smashed by someone or some thing that happened; this is your day.

If you have been looking for a day on the calendar of the Church, in which political maneuvering happened by a powerful leader, and it seemed like God did nothing to stop it; The Feast of the Holy Innocents is just what you need.

If the Feast of St. Stephen was the spoiler to Christmas Day, then today's commemoration of the Holy Innocents is the double spoiler.

The reality of Jesus' birth, was that He was born into our world of political maneuvering, horror, injustice and brutality that affects us all.  Such a concept is so difficult for us to digest.  We want a Savior who will put an end to all of those things.   All of those prophesies of the coming of a Savior who would be like a mighty warrior and finally bring the kind of justice we are looking for; they just do not appear to be true.

As difficult as it can be for us to grasp, Jesus did not come to end all human suffering.  Jesus came as God's perfect revelation of God's Self to walk with us through all the suffering, so that we would know that we do not deal with it alone.  Jesus came so that we would know that whatever evil may occur in our own lives, communities, nation and world; God is there weeping with us and seeks to console us, so that we may become a healing and transforming people.

At the same time, Christians can and have provoked similar acts of violence with the absurd notion that God condones it.  This Feast Day is transferred from December 28th, which is also the date of the Wounded Knee Massacre.   On that horrible day, Americans guided by a so called Christian ideal that "not all people are created equal in God's eye " committed our own version of the Holy Innocents. We also have in our history the ongoing violence to individuals of different races, genders, gender identities/expressions, sexual orientations, languages, immigration statuses, disabilities, behaviors and more.  We continue to justify things such as taking away funding for food stamps, unemployment insurance, reproductive health care choices for women and worker's rights.  We want people to "rely on God and not the government" in a Nation that boasts of a government "of the people, for the people and by the people."  Yet, a majority of "people" want the ability to decide on the well being and prosperity of people who are wealthy and powerful, over the weak, the lonely, the destitute and the marginalized.   How, then, are we really different from Herod?

On this Feast of the Holy Innocents, may we reflect on the goodness of God to each one of us.  But, let us also ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, so that we may do our part to affect change for the good all of God's children.

Amen.


Prayers

We remember today, O God, the slaughter of the holy
innocents of Bethlehem by King Herod. Receive, we pray,
into the arms of your mercy all innocent victims; and by your
great might frustrate the designs of evil tyrants and establish
your rule of justice, love, and peace; through Jesus Christ
our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the
Holy Spirit,, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Collect for The Holy Innocents, The Book of Common Prayer., p.238).

Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of
your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our
hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (Collect for the First Sunday after Christmas.  The Book of Common Prayer., p. 213).

Almighty God, who created us in your image: Grant us
grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace
with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom,
help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our
communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy
Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect for Social Justice. The Book of Common Prayer., p.260).

Fourth Day of Christmas: The Holy Innocents and the Wounded Knee Massacre

Today's Scripture Reading

Matthew 2:13-18 (NRSV)

When the wise men had departed, 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." Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and 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."

When 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. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:

"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."

Blog Reflection

I often wish I did not know about this Holy Day in our Church calendar.  I want the night before Christmas back with the beauty of the expected coming of the Christ Child, the music, the singing, the sermon about Emmanuel, God with us.

I do not get to chose what is in the history of the Christian Church. I know.  I know. I am free to do whatever I want with my religion.  Except that if I do that and pass up what the Holy Innocents is about, I am not being true to who I am as a gay Episcopalian and a Benedictine.

We remember today with great horror and"why, O God" that King Herod slaughtered every male child up to two years old, because he was afraid that the new born King was going to supplant him.  This is one scene that Franco Zeffirelli brought home in the Anglo/Italian mini series Jesus of Nazareth depicted with drama that almost makes me sick to my stomach.   The screaming amidst the brutality of Herod's warriors putting these babies to the sword and the weeping mothers as the streets are literally filled with blood is heart wrenching. 

As in past years, I write today about this Holy Day, and the Wounded Knee Massacre that took place 123 years ago today.  A date that is oddly the same as remembering the Holy Innocents.  Native Americans were slaughtered during the Wounded Knee Massacre with the same kind of brutality that killed the Holy Innocence back in Bethlehem.  The Wounded Knee Massacre is as much a Holy Innocence killing as it is an example of the lack of hospitality that actually destroyed the Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.   It wasn't homosexuality, as some still insist.

Both of these horrible massacres are the result of political maneuvering for the purpose of safe guarding a sense of insecurity on the part of a King and a government that just cannot allow something that they cannot understand, to roam freely and complete the purpose for which they exist.

When we read about incidents like these, our first question naturally is "where was God?"  If God is so Divine and Omni-present and Almighty, why didn't God intervene here?

I cannot answer that question in a way that would make sense. The violence we recall on a day like this, just does not make sense.

What also does not make sense is how so-called "pro-life" people make use of the horrible events we remember today to shame women about abortion.  It is a terrible abuse of pastoral and religious authority to use this day on women who are so often victimized by men in cases of rape and sexual assault. Women who are experiencing complications with their reproductive organs and need to make a decision about the fetus and the consequences she will face socially if she decides to abort, don't need reminders of how painful such a decision is.  Yet, many "pro-lifers" insist on using this day to pile on the guilt.

Days like this can also be a reminder of how Christianists and others who still use the Bible to condemn lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people; particularly youth.  LGBT and questioning youth who are trying to understand who they are and why they are so different from others who don't have these feelings in side of them that they are so afraid of.  They hear messages about how "As a Christian, I believe with all my heart that homosexuality is wrong." (See the movie For the Bible Tells Me So for the quote).  The innocence of a pure heart that wants to love herself/himself the way they are and know there is a place for them and God in this world, gets violated as Christianist Pastors invade their sacred spaces.  This too is it's own form of a massacre.

How can the Christ Child of Bethlehem heal our broken relationships on a day like this?

I think we have to begin by allowing the Christ Child to help us understand what is in our own hearts.  All of us have those things that we think give us a sense of self security.  We all have that someone that we want out of our way so we can do as we please.  There is someone some where that scares our sense of self sufficiency to the point where we just have to do our political maneuvering.  If we are not careful, those feelings can drive us to an emotional violence towards someone whom we just hate so much, that we just cannot let them be who they are.

Jesus comes in the Word made flesh, full of grace and truth to help us know that the Light of God shines into those dark places within our hearts and souls.  That Light comes with love and grace to deliver us from our own sense of feeling like the hate that is in our hearts for someone else just cannot be changed or healed. God tells us that it is okay to let go. God tells us that it is okay that we let that individual who is between God and our personal salvation go and be who they are.  We don't have to change them.  We don't have to like them.  We don't even have to be their new best friend.  We also do not have to harbor that prejudice and hurt that harms ourselves on their account.  The Christ Child says; It's okay to let go.

Today's commemoration of the Holy Innocents teaches us that though we may not feel or see God in the midst of the horrible things that happen; we can be part of the solution if we are willing to let Jesus change our hearts and lives.  We can allow LGBT people, women, Native Americans, Muslims, Jews, immigrants and so forth seek to live their lives in peace with all of us.  In that peace there there is no need for political maneuvering.  Because God in Christ takes these horrible events and uses them to change communities and all humankind if only we will let God's Light shine through the darkness.

Amen.


Prayers

We remember today, O God, the slaughter of the holy
innocents of Bethlehem by King Herod. Receive, we pray,
into the arms of your mercy all innocent victims; and by your
great might frustrate the designs of evil tyrants and establish
your rule of justice, love, and peace; through Jesus Christ
our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the
Holy Spirit,, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Holy Innocents, Book of Common Prayer, page 238).

O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know
you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend
us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that
we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of
any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen. (Prayer for Peace, Book of Common Prayer, page 99).

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole
human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which
infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and
confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in
your good time, all nations and races may serve you in
harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Human Family, Book of Common Prayer, page 815).

Fourth Day of Christmas: The Holy Innocents

Today's Scripture Readings

Jeremiah 31:15-17 (NRSV)

Thus says the LORD:

A voice is heard in Ramah,

lamentation and bitter weeping.

Rachel is weeping for her children;

she refuses to be comforted for her children,

because they are no more.

Thus says the LORD:

Keep your voice from weeping,

and your eyes from tears;

for there is a reward for your work,

says the LORD:

they shall come back from the land of the enemy;

there is hope for your future,

says the LORD:

your children shall come back to their own country.

Psalm 124 (BCP., p.781)


Revelation 21:1-7 (NRSV)

I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

"See, the home of God is among mortals.

He will dwell with them as their God;

they will be his peoples,

and God himself will be with them;

he will wipe every tear from their eyes.

Death will be no more;

mourning and crying and pain will be no more,

for the first things have passed away."

And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true." Then he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. Those who conquer will inherit these things, and I will be their God and they will be my children.

Matthew 2:13-18 (NRSV)

When the wise men had departed, 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." Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and 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."

When 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. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:

"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."

Blog Reflection

I really do not think it is a coincidence that we commemorate the Holy Innocents exactly two weeks to the day since the horrific shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT.   Indeed, two weeks ago, America witnessed a massacre of innocence.   Or, should we say that we were made aware of the mass murder of twenty innocent children along with 8 adults?   How many other such incidents happen that we just do not know about?

In the past on this Holy Day in our Church calendar I have written about the dangers of political maneuvering.  The slaughter of all of the male children in and around Bethlehem was an act of political maneuvering on the part of Herod.   He was so fearful of being supplanted, that the idea of an infant who was a new born king, was something he just could not leave alone. 

I have also written about the fact that this date of December 28th also falls one day before the anniversary of another massacre that many of us hear very little about.  One hundred and twenty seven years ago, a horrific number of Native Americans were slaughtered in the Wounded Knee Massacre.  A Nation said to be about with liberty and justice for all, turned out to be another set of words that meant everything to some, and nothing to others.  A Nation of liberty so long as one was white, male, of European origin and Christian.  A Nation of oppression and injustice if you were so unfortunate to be a Native American. 

We still live in a time of political maneuvering.  At present we have a looming date for going over the fiscal cliff with the middle class and the poorest among us who have the most to lose.  Every political maneuvering imaginable is being done to be sure that one political party or individual is the one(s) to blame.  But, even if we do go over the fiscal cliff, they have very little to lose.  They will still  have their enormous salaries.  Their homes.  Businesses.  Their high priced places to stay in Washington, D.C.  Those who will really feel the impact of losing their unemployment benefits, and experience the greatest loses, well, they would just be out of luck.  Yet, in an effort to arrive some where, who's benefits are placed as a bargaining chip?  The elderly, retired and disabled.   Is this not another political maneuvering by which innocent people remain at risk?

We were horrified beyond belief two weeks ago.  What we read about in our Gospel today, terrifies us, and for good reason.  But, why are we not so terrified about the thousands of children who are dying every day by drone missiles being fired in Pakistan?   Why are we so apathetic about the many immigrant children who face deportation or being put in prison along with their parents over their "papers"?   Why are we turning a deaf ear to the number of suicides every year of LGBT youth due to bullying?    Why are we not equally concerned about a woman who gives birth to a child, because of all the laws made to make abortion services harder to get, but we have no charity to provide her with funding for housing, child care, education, job training and health care services?

Our Gospel today gives us a glimpse into how much Jesus shares in our human nature.  The child Jesus, his mother and father, were refugees in Egypt.  The Son of God identifies with those who must flee from their homeland to escape oppression and death.  How much are we concerned with the LGBT citizens in a place like Uganda who may have to flee their homes to escape the looming death if the "Kill the gays" bill is passed?

As we continue to celebrate the coming of Christ among us on Christmas, I think we would do well to pray about what role we might play in the ending of injustice and oppression.  It is quite obvious that Jesus did not come to end those things.  Even if the words of O Holy Night says: "in his Name all oppression shall cease."  It is apparent, that oppression is still with us.  Jesus comes to let us know that God suffers right along with us when it comes to injustice and oppression.  God hurts as humans hurt through so much suffering and death. 

God also promises to be with us when we are ready to become proactive in doing something about it.  God knows that there is the Cross involved with doing something about the injustices in this world.  We could very well lose our popularity, prestige or even our lives for doing so.   Whether losing our lives means giving of our time, talent and treasure away from those things we want most, or literally our lives.  God promises to walk with us through those things and to suffer along with us, but also help us to achieve things that only we can do.  But, it all begins when we say yes to God.

Amen.


Prayers

We remember today, O God, the slaughter of the holy
innocents of Bethlehem by King Herod. Receive, we pray,
into the arms of your mercy all innocent victims; and by your
great might frustrate the designs of evil tyrants and establish
your rule of justice, love, and peace; through Jesus Christ
our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the
Holy Spirit,, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Collect for the Holy Innocents, Book of Common Prayer, p. 238).

Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this
land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as
their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to
eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those
who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law
and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of
us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Oppressed, Book of Common Prayer, p. 826).