Feast of the Holy Innocents
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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