Holy Innocents, Martyrs
"And He remained there until the death of Herod so that that which was spoken by the Lord through the prophets would be fulfilled saying, 'Out of Egypt, I have called My Son.'" (St. Matthew 2:15)
Merry Christmas! In the name of Jesus. Amen. On the fourth day of Christmas with the manger still in our minds, we hear of the slaughter of the infants by King Herod.
Talk about putting your Christmas decorations away in a hurry! Gone are the shepherds. Gone are the angels. Gone is the, "no room left for them in the inn." What's left? The butchering of the innocents in Bethlehem.
The only sin of the Holy Innocents is that they were in Bethlehem and the same age as Baby Jesus. They are "holy" not because they were born "holy." They are "holy" because they died for the Savior. Jesus flees to Egypt, It's not His time to die. Those children that remain--His little friends--die in His place.
It's not His time to die just yet. His time will come, but first He's got more Scripture to fulfill. God's children, Israel, went to Egypt, so God's Son goes to Egypt too.
He will be the new Israel in place of Israel. Out of Egypt, God has called His Son. He will not fail, not sin. When it is His time to give up His life, He does it in place of Israel, for the Holy Innocents, and for you and me.
The world wants to destroy Christ too, so they will come and attempt to destroy you. Whether by force or by ridicule, you too will suffer.
That's the danger of being in Christ--you suffer for His Name. But our comfort and salvation is found in His suffering for us. That's what makes for a Merry Christmas, even in times of suffering. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
"O Lord God, heavenly Father, who out of the mouths of babes and nursing infants ordained strength, suffer us not to despair of the Holy Innocents, whose lives were given that Your Son might live and give His life for them and for all who suffer the hostilities of sin with a love stronger than death; through the same, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever." (Collect for Holy Innocents, Martyrs)
Daily Lectionary: Isa. 53:13-54:10, St. Matt. 2:13-23
Today's Readings: Jer. 31:15-17, Rev. 14:1-5, St. Matt. 2:13-18
Higher Things would like to thank the Rev. George F. Borghardt III (Assistant Pastor, St. Mark Lutheran Church, Conroe, TX) for writing this season's Reflections.
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