The Holy Innocents

For many, this feast of the Holy Innocents will bring to mind aborted children, whose souls like those of the innocents who died at the hand of Herod have already fled home to God. Beyond that, and in no way to minimize that, I find the day also brings to mind children who were victims of genocide, which would also describe Herod’s action. It brings to mind children who have been abused and neglected and who have died as a result. It brings to mind children who live, live in households without love and suffer as a result, children who are living in the darkness of the selfishness of others and are dying from a lack of hope. Yet that hope is ready, waiting and available in the one Child Herod was unable to kill.