A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loudly lamenting; it was Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted because they were no more.
– Matthew 2:13-18
Today, Day 4 in the Octave of Christmas, is the Feast of the Holy Innocents. In the midst of our joy at the birth of Jesus, we are suddenly confronted with this solemn and shocking occasion.
Sometimes the world is a dark place. But it is in darkness that the true power and hope of the Christmas season is revealed. Pope Francis says:
To contemplate the manger in isolation from the world around us would make Christmas into a lovely story that inspires warm feelings but robs us of the creative power of the Good News that the Incarnate Word wants to give us.
The Nativity is more than a story; it is a source of strength and courage in darkness.
Prayer for the Feast of the Holy Innocents
Loving God,
Inspired by the Holy Innocents, we pray for a world free of tyranny and abuse of power.
May we always protect all children from the Herods of our time.
Amen.
Focus for today
Today our focus is courage. May we always have the courage to protect those more vulnerable than ourselves.
Find a quiet place. Perhaps light a candle. Reflect on the areas of your life where you need courage and ask God to fortify you.