Saint of the day for December 28: the story of the innocent saints

Saint of the day for December 28nd

The story of the innocent saints

Herod "the Great", king of Judea, was unpopular with his people because of his links with the Romans and his religious indifference. So he was insecure and afraid of any threat to his throne. He was an experienced politician and a tyrant capable of extreme brutality. He killed his wife, his brother and his sister's two husbands, to name but a few.

Matthew 2: 1-18 tells this story: Herod was "very upset" when the astrologers from the east came to ask where "the newborn king of the Jews" was, whose star they had seen. They were told that the Hebrew Scriptures called Bethlehem the place where the Messiah would be born. Herod skillfully told them to report to him so that he could also "pay homage to him." They found Jesus, offered him their gifts, and, warned by an angel, avoided Herod on their way home. Jesus fled to Egypt.

Herod was furious and "ordered the massacre of all the boys of Bethlehem and its surroundings two years and under". The horror of the massacre and the devastation of mothers and fathers led Matthew to quote Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud moans; Rachel weeps for her children… ”(Matthew 2:18). Rachel was the wife of Jacob (Israel). She is depicted crying at the place where the Israelites were gathered together by the conquering Assyrians on their march to captivity.

Reflection

The Holy Innocents are few compared to the genocide and abortion of our day. But even if there was only one, we recognize the greatest treasure that God has placed on earth: a human person, destined for eternity and graced by the death and resurrection of Jesus.

The Innocents are the Patron Saints of:

Kids