Above: Massacre of the Innocents, by Pieter Bruegel the Elder
Image in the Public Domain
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The Collect:
All-powerful and unseen God, the coming of your light
into our world has brightened weary hearts with peace.
Call us out of darkness, and empower us to proclaim the birth of your Son,
Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
–Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), page 20
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The Assigned Readings:
Jeremiah 31:15-17
Psalm 148
Matthew 2:13-18
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Let kings and commoners,
princes and rulers over the whole earth,
youths and girls,
old and young together,
let them praise the name of the LORD,
for his name is high above all others,
and his majesty above earth and heaven.
He has exalted his people in the pride of power
and crowned with praise his loyal servants,
Israel, a people close to him.
Praise the LORD.
–Psalm 148:11-14, Revised English Bible (1989)
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Christmas Eve and December 25 are supposed to be joyous occasions, especially liturgically. Yet, for many people, grief due to the absences of certain family members detracts from the celebration. Such times ought to become occasions for grace to flow to those who grieve, with mere mortals functioning as agents of God. We live in the midst of grace, which I liken to a lamp. We notice its light more at night than we do earlier in the day. Likewise, grace becomes more noticeable when we perceive the need for it to be greater.
Jeremiah 31 speaks of the return of the exiles from the ten lost tribes of Israel to their homeland, an event which has yet to occur. Rachel weeps because of their absence, but there is hope, the text says. The author of the Gospel of Matthew quoted part of that passage and related it to the Massacre of the Innocents. Herod the Great was a mean and mentally unhinged monarch who derived his power from the Roman Empire. He authorized violence against members of his own family, so ordering the killing of strangers was consistent with his character.
Some stories of violence follow the great festival of Christmas Eve and Day. December 26 is the Feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr. And December 28, of course, is the Feast of the Holy Innocents. Jesus entered a world in which evil people commit or consent to violence to benefit themselves and many other people stand by and watch it happen. Human nature has remained constant and the violence has continued. We humans are creatures of habit. That fact contributes to the imperative of fostering and pursuing positive habits, those which build up people and contribute to the common good. This is possible, for God has bestowed ample grace upon us. What will we do with it?
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
NOVEMBER 8, 2014 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF JOHANN VON STAUPITZ, MARTIN LUTHER’S SPIRITUAL MENTOR
THE FEAST OF JAMES THEODORE HOLLY, EPISCOPAL BISHOP OF HAITI
THE FEAST OF JOHN MILTON, POET AND ANGLICAN PRIEST
THE FEAST OF THE SAINTS AND MARTYRS OF THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION
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Adapted from this post:
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BLOGA THEOLOGICA 
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