Feast of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs“When Herod realized he had been deceived by the Magi, he became furious. He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under.” (Matthew 2:16) Yes, those boys who are “two years old and under” are definitely beloved children of God who are innocent. But as 2020 draws to a close we also remember over 300,000 beloved children of God who have died from the Coronavirus. We remember countless beloved children of God who have died through violence on our streets – some at the hands of those charged with keeping them safe. We remember the beloved children of God at our borders, separated from their parents with little hope of being reunited. And we remember the beloved children of God who have been executed by the state – perhaps not innocent, but still beloved. This Gospel passage is in such stark contrast to all the “glad tidings of great joy” we have been hearing. The Magi, following a star and bearing gifts, have come and gone, and we are left with Herod who is furious and is seeking revenge. In Pope Francis’ latest encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, he says, “The important thing is not to fuel anger, which is unhealthy for our own soul and the soul of our people, or to become obsessed with taking revenge and destroying the other.” (242) He continues, “Each of us should realize that “even the harsh judgment I hold in my heart against my brother or my sister, the open wound that was never cured, the offense that was never forgiven, the rancour that is only going to hurt me, are all instances of a struggle that I carry within me, a little flame deep in my heart that needs to be extinguished before it turns into a great blaze.” (243) And so we pray, what needs to be extinguished in my heart? What open wound was never cured? What offense was never forgiven? Sister Eileen, the Religious Engagement Associate for the Catholic Mobilizing Network, is working with Religious Congregations to broaden and deepen their commitment to ending the death penalty and to enhance the voices of murder victim family members. Eileen holds an MA in Peace and Justice Education and a Masters of Divinity from Weston Jesuit School of Theology. She has taught at the elementary and secondary levels, and coordinated peace and justice activities in several parishes as well as within her own religious congregation. Prior to coming to CMN, Eileen served as her congregation’s NGO Representative to the United Nations.
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