Faith in the Face of Violence: The Message of the Holy Innocents

Faith in the Face of Violence: The Message of the Holy Innocents

The Feast of the Holy Innocents: A Call to Faith and Compassion

The Church gives us the Feast of the Holy Innocents as a reminder that the birth of Jesus Christ—the coming of God to dwell among us—will be met with resistance. From the very beginning, his presence is opposed, and his path ultimately leads to suffering and death. Those who remain faithful to him will also face persecution, as faithfulness to God comes with consequences.

The Holy Innocents

Today’s readings, especially the Gospel of Matthew, emphasize that Jesus is the fulfillment of the entire Old Testament. He is the new Moses. Just as Moses was born into a time of fear and oppression, so too was Jesus.

When Moses was born in Egypt, Pharaoh, fearing that the Israelites might threaten his rule, ordered the mass killing of Hebrew male infants. Only baby girls were spared. To save her child, Moses’ mother hid him in a basket among the reeds, where he was later rescued and raised in Pharaoh’s palace.

Similarly, at Jesus’ birth, King Herod, afraid of losing his throne, ordered the massacre of all boys two years old and under in Bethlehem and its surrounding areas. The very same pattern of power-driven violence repeated itself: those in authority sought to eliminate any perceived threat to their reign.

The Slaughter Happens Today

This is how worldly powers maintain control—through violence and oppression. But God’s authority is different. It is not upheld by force, but by love, compassion, kindness, and generosity. This divine power threatens earthly rulers because it stands in direct contrast to their reliance on fear and brutality.

Though these events occurred in the time of Pharaoh and Herod, they continue today. How many children have perished in war-torn regions like Gaza and Ukraine? How many have been killed in hospitals, bombed along with the buildings that were meant to heal them? How many children have become refugees, fleeing destruction with their families, seeking safety across borders?

The story of Jesus mirrors the suffering of these innocent ones. Just as he was forced into exile in Egypt to survive, so too do countless children today endure displacement and hardship. The Feast of the Holy Innocents is not just a remembrance of the past—it is a call to action in the present.

What Can We Do Today

As Christians, we must ask ourselves: What can we do in response to the suffering of children today? How can we stand against the injustices that make the most vulnerable among us victims of violence and oppression?

Another lesson from this feast comes from Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus. He listened to God’s voice, obeyed without hesitation, and took Jesus to safety. The Feast of the Holy Innocents reminds us that obedience to God must come first. We, too, are called to listen—to hear the cries of the innocent and to respond with faith and action.

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Faith in the Face of Violence: The Message of the Holy Innocents