Today is the Feast of the Holy Innocents.  Matthew (2:1-12, 16-18) tells the story of Magi who come to Judea because of an astrological sign that they believe signals the birth of a new king over Israel.  Innocently (naively?) they head to the palace of Herod, the puppet king who ‘rules’ under Rome’s thumb.  There they ask to pay homage to the newly born heir apparent.  Oops.  Herod has no newborn heir.

They leave, present their gifts to Jesus, and sneak out of town. 

Their talk of a heavenly-announced birth provokes Herod’s fears.  He doesn’t celebrate what could be the birth of God’s promised Messiah, not if it means he has to give up his cushy job.

And so, he orders the murder of all the children under two years old in and around Bethlehem.

Matthew places this story immediately after the story of Jesus’ birth to force us to see that the coming of the Messiah provokes opposition — deadly opposition — from the forces of evil and oppression.  The Prince of Peace was the target of those who want power and dominance.  Death stalks the Christ-child from the very beginning.

To this day, the work of the Kingdom: inclusion and acceptance of all people, peace-making, advocacy for the poor and powerless, the disenfranchised and unwanted, is opposed by all of us (yes, even us).  Even though we are not always aware of it, we benefit from things as they are, and often we would rather look away from the injustices that allow us to live in comfort and security while others lead precarious lives.

His story is also our internal, spiritual story.  The new Life that God has planted in our hearts is the target of all the forces at war within us that would rather not yield to the rule of this Infant King.  Following Christ means surrendering the throne of our heart to a new ruler.  That act of surrender is not something that happens only once.  Our own selfish desire to rule continues to rear its head and, in order to keep our grip on our own little kingdom, we sometimes seek to destroy the tender, growing Life within us and do untold damage to the people closest to us.

The Good News is that God is loving and courageous enough to dwell in our hearts, to risk our own assaults on the One growing there, because God refuses to part from us.

Prayer: When I lash out in selfishness and fear, wanting my own way – my own monarchial rule, I confess I have slaughtered innocents, slashed relationships, wounded my own soul.  Give me grace to surrender my throne more gracefully to You.  Amen.