“When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children…”
I’ve never preached a sermon on this verse at Christmas or any other time for that matter. It’s part of the story though. You may recall when Joseph and Mary heard of Herod’s intent to kill their baby boy, they packed up in the middle of the night and immigrated to Egypt. Herod had hoped the wise men would come back and tell him where Jesus was but they were warned that his intent was for violence. They went home by another way.
I love this story in Matthew’s gospel. Joseph acts decisively and courageously to save his little family. The wise men do the right thing and instead of being intimidated by the powerful they listen to their hearts and do what they can to help the child survive.
I’ve preached on this part of the story. I’ve focused on Joseph’s fortitude and the wise men’s courageous willingness to take another road home. I’ve never preached on the rest of the story, though, the part about Herod and his execution of the baby boys of Bethlehem.
I cannot even begin to imagine the grief and sadness experienced in those families. I’m unable to wonder about their thoughts of revenge as they buried their tiny ones.
I’m sure though that there are parents today in San Bernardino who know these feelings. Husbands and wives and children, too. They can imagine the heartache, the tidal wave of sorrow, the desire for justice.
And they are not alone. The list of cities that have seen the mass murder of innocents includes not only Bethlehem and San Bernardino, but Charleston and Roseburg, Colorado Springs and Beirut, Paris and Baghdad, Columbine and Sandy Hook. There are many, many more. When will it stop?
I’d like to do something, anything, but what? Some say we need more gun control, while others say we need to arm everyone so they can defend themselves. Neither option seems very helpful at the moment.
When I don’t know what to do, I fall on my knees in prayer. I prayed today for the victims and their families and friends. With tears on my face and anger in my heart, I prayed for our country, too. I asked God to shake us from our foolish partisan bickering. I prayed that we’d stop offering platitudes and instead get up off of our knees and give ourselves over to the power of God’s love. I prayed that we would find a way to break down the walls of fear, tear down the barriers of resentment, push aside our tendency to blame and find a way to say “this far and no further. The violence must end.”
In this season of joy we are invited to follow the star to the cradle of a tiny baby. That baby, according to the our faith, is the hope of our world. I’m sure Joseph and Mary prayed for the child. And I’m just as sure that as soon as they said “Amen,” they got on to the work of doing all they could to help that little boy. It’s time for us to do the same for the world that Jesus gave his life to save. It’s time to say, “Amen,” and begin the work of turning our world toward the peace of God.
Grace and peace to you,
