Almighty God, the martyred innocents of Bethlehem showed forth Your praise not by speaking but by dying. Put to death in us all this is in conflict with You will that our lives 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. (Collect for The Holy Innocents, Martyrs)
The Commemoration of The Holy Innocents, Martyrs is celebrated on December 28th. Matthew’s Gospel tells of King Herod’s vicious plot against the infant Jesus after being “tricked” by the Wise Men. Threatened by the one “born King of the Jews,” Herod murdered all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or younger (Matthew 2:16-18). These “innocents,” commemorated just three days after the celebration of Jesus’ birth, remind us not only of the terrible brutality of which human beings are capable but more significantly of the persecution Jesus endured from the beginning of His earthly life. Although Jesus’ life was providentially spared at this time, many years later, another ruler, Pontius Pilate, would sentence the innocent Jesus to death.
“This is how the life of our Lord Jesus commenced, with the devil appearing soon on the scene to foment suffering and grief. But he must have soon realized what he actually gained by it. For the children were taken out of this world and his kingdom, into heaven. Herod tore the little children from the mothers’ bosoms, and sent them to heaven, making nothing less than martyrs of them, whose blood is precious in the sight of God! For the parents it was a terrible thing, but it happened for the eventual good of the children; they felt no anguish in their souls. So the Lord took them away at the time of His own advent into the world, as a sweet-smelling sacrifice to Himself. Thus much good would yet come from Herod’s murdering.” (Martin Luther; portion of a sermon delivered on December 31, 1541)
Herod, the King, In his raging,
Charged he hath this day
His men of might,
In his own sight,
All young children to slay.
Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child,
By by, lully lullay, thou little tiny child,
By by, lully lullay.
While it is easy to get lost in the nightmare of what happened to the Innocents, it's to be remembered that they ultimately triumphed! They are Saints of God.
In Christ,
Pastor Ray
The Commemoration of The Holy Innocents, Martyrs is celebrated on December 28th. Matthew’s Gospel tells of King Herod’s vicious plot against the infant Jesus after being “tricked” by the Wise Men. Threatened by the one “born King of the Jews,” Herod murdered all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or younger (Matthew 2:16-18). These “innocents,” commemorated just three days after the celebration of Jesus’ birth, remind us not only of the terrible brutality of which human beings are capable but more significantly of the persecution Jesus endured from the beginning of His earthly life. Although Jesus’ life was providentially spared at this time, many years later, another ruler, Pontius Pilate, would sentence the innocent Jesus to death.
“This is how the life of our Lord Jesus commenced, with the devil appearing soon on the scene to foment suffering and grief. But he must have soon realized what he actually gained by it. For the children were taken out of this world and his kingdom, into heaven. Herod tore the little children from the mothers’ bosoms, and sent them to heaven, making nothing less than martyrs of them, whose blood is precious in the sight of God! For the parents it was a terrible thing, but it happened for the eventual good of the children; they felt no anguish in their souls. So the Lord took them away at the time of His own advent into the world, as a sweet-smelling sacrifice to Himself. Thus much good would yet come from Herod’s murdering.” (Martin Luther; portion of a sermon delivered on December 31, 1541)
Herod, the King, In his raging,
Charged he hath this day
His men of might,
In his own sight,
All young children to slay.
Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child,
By by, lully lullay, thou little tiny child,
By by, lully lullay.
While it is easy to get lost in the nightmare of what happened to the Innocents, it's to be remembered that they ultimately triumphed! They are Saints of God.
In Christ,
Pastor Ray