The Holy Innocents

Malvern Retreat House, Family Life Center

Chapel Sanctuary, Dec. 2010

Today's Gospel reading (Matt 2:16-18) struck me:

"When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi, he became furious. He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi. Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet:


   A voice was heard in Ramah,
   sobbing and loud lamentation;
   Rachel weeping for her children,
   and she would not be consoled,
   since they were no more."

I think of the children in our world today and am faced with sobering facts. UNICEF estimates that more than 2 million children have died as a direct result of armed conflict over the last decade, and at least 6 million permanently disabled or injured.  In the nine year period between 1995 - 2003, 42 million children were killed by abortion, according to the Guttmacher Institute. It reminds me of the urgency of the work and prayer needed to help others understand the sanctity of human life at such an early stage. The gospel of Matthew again echoes in my mind as I look for direction in my meditation:


"Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said, "Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." ~ Matt 19:13-14