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Feast of the Holy Innocents

Readings of the Day
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For many people, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year.
Personally, I love listening to instrumental Christmas music while
sitting by a fire reading a book underneath the soft glow of twinkling
lights. I know how fortunate I am to write those words because for
many others, Christmas can be a painful reminder of loss, grief,
stress and anxiety. And for those of us working in social ministry, we
are acutely aware of the immense suffering in our communities and the
world around us. Christmas can be anything but the most wonderful time
of the year.

Today as we commemorate the Feast of the Holy Innocents, we hear the
Gospel story of the horrific massacre of Bethlehem's infant sons
at the hands of an enraged Herod searching for the infant Jesus. It is
a heartbreaking depiction that comes just two days after joyfully
celebrating the birth of our Savior; however, the Church in her wisdom
celebrates this feast day because it demonstrates that despite the
immense tragedy around us, "God is light and in him, there is no
darkness at all" (1 John 1:5). The Holy Innocents, who did not
die in vain, represent Jesus, the righteous one, who is also innocent
and will one day die "not for our sins only but for those of the
whole world" (1 John 2:2). For social ministers, we can find
encouragement and comfort in knowing that Jesus entered this broken
world to bring us light, so that we in turn can be light for others.

The Feast of the Holy Innocents teaches us that while Jesus'
Incarnation did not remove suffering from this world, we can find hope
and solace in knowing that God Himself entered it, so He can accompany
us through the heartache and pain. As social ministers, we are aware
of the co-responsibility we share to also walk alongside those who are
suffering, to offer encouragement and hope.  As we continue with
the Christmas season, let us take a moment today to remember all our
family members, friends, coworkers, and clients who might be
struggling, and hold them in prayer and reach out to them so that they
know they are not alone.

Catherine Orr is the Program Coordinator for the Roundtable
Association of Catholic Diocesan Social Action Directors and ministers
as Pastoral Associate at Lumen Christi Parish in Mequon, WI. She also
serves on the Catholic Charities USA Parish Social Ministry Leadership
Team. 




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