"The Holy Innocents" (Matthew 2:13-18)

 (Matthew 2:13-18)  

Why, O God,

must we remember

the words

of the slaughter

of the Holy Innocents

today?  

Just days ago,

we sought the Christ-child.

The heavens exploded

with joy

and proclamation

and we raised our candles

as if they were

the soft twinkling

of stars in the

Bethlehem night sky.

We heard once again

the story

of shepherds running

from their flocks,

to the very place

where Love was born

and our hearts

were filled with their

excitement.

We are now looking East,

toward the horizon

for magi

bearing gifts

and we wonder

what gifts

might we also bring.

Why, O God,

must we remember 

these Holy Innocents now

when we have knelt

at a manger 

to witness Love

first-hand?

It is 

less painful

and sorrowful

for us

to close 

our eyes

to all of this.

Is it because

there are still

Innocents today?

In South Sudan or Aleppo ...

or in our own streets?

Nameless and named?

Is it because

there are still

Innocents today ?

Hungry

and cold?

Nameless and named?  

Is it because

there are still

Holy Innocents today?

Battered and bruised

in the very place

they call home?

Nameless and named?  

Why, O God,

must we remember

the Holy Innocents?

"Because, my child,

there are Innocents

in this world today,

and 

mothers

weeping and

refusing to be

comforted.

There are still

Herods who

have both 

great power and

great fear

within them.

You must not forget

and you must not

look away."

(c) 2016 revised   anna murdock