O God, whom the Holy Innocents confessed and proclaimed on this day, not by speaking but by dying, grant, we pray, that the faith in you which we confess with our lips, may also speak through our manner of life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
Today is the Feast of the Holy Innocents. They were the children slaughtered by the order of Herod in order that, among those killed, Herod’s soldiers might find the newborn King of the Jews, the promised Messiah, and put Him to death.
We know that Herod’s plan did not work because Joseph and Mary had been warned by an angel and fled to Egypt to raise their Son. Herod would stop at nothing in order to assure himself that his competition would be eradicated.
There are many today who would do anything in order to erase witnesses to the Lord. The world is a hostile, anti-Christian place. The last thing it wants is to have its people pledge themselves to the King of the Jews, Jesus Christ.
Because of hostility, some Christians back down and quit living the faith. They would rather be safe than put their lives on the line. In doing so, though, they really lose. They might make themselves safe on this earth; however, this earth is not our final destination. It is merely the place we await God’s call to go home to Him.
Innocents of all kind are still threatened today. It is up to us to speak up for the lost, the forsaken, the threatened innocents of this world. Let us not cause another group of people to cry out to God because of the injustices visited upon them. Rather, let us fight the good fight and do all that we can to ensure that all people have the chance to live in peace.
FAITH ACTION: Pray for all the innocents today who are in peril because of poverty, war, persecution, abortion and other societal evils.