Saturday December 28
Matthew 18:1-14 (Holy Innocents)
Today is called “The Holy Innocents” in the Christian calendar, and is termed a Holy Day. Today we remember the story told in Matthew’s Gospel when Herod, fearful of the new king whose birth the Magi had foretold, issues an edict that all male infants under the age of two years were to be killed. For most of us, this is a very disturbing story, with reverberations throughout the history of the world, and even into our life today. We may even ask how a God of love, justice, and mercy could allow such a cruel thing to happen. It’s not an easy Holy Day to celebrate!
But the reading for this day shines a different, and more gracious light on this story, for in Matthew 18:1-14 the author speaks of children as central to our understanding of the Kin(g)dom of God. Unless we can be like a child, we may not enter into the fullness of life of which Jesus spoke. “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name, welcomes me.”
In these days after Christmas, let’s think about the children in our lives who are important to us. Let’s remember the wonder and excitement in a child’s eyes at Christmas. Let’s focus on the innocence and eagerness of children as they embrace each new event and experience. Let’s welcome the children among us, and let’s even try to be a little more childlike ourselves. And let’s pray for the children of the world whose lives are anything but filled with joy and wonder.
-The Rev'd Paul Kett
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