Saturday, December 28, 2002
Saturday, December 28, 2002
When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and
he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under,
according to the time that he had learned from the wise men.
Some churches have an annual recognition of this gruesome event. The early church said that
the Innocents died for Christ without understanding what was happening to them. Hence, the
prayer handed down through the centuries in the Anglican Church: "Receive . . . into the arms of
your mercy all innocent victims; and by your great might frustrate the designs of evil tyrants and
establish your rule of justice, love and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. . . ." Certainly a
tragic ending to the Christmas story. Not only the loss of innocent life, but Mary and Joseph and
their new baby boy fleeing to Egypt where they would await the death of that cruel tyrant, Herod
the Great. Herod was an unusually vindictive man, but he made the same mistakes that many
people make. May we be ware of our own actions.
(Matthew 2.16
NRSV)
History books call him, strangely enough, Herod the Great. Herod came from a powerful family.
His father and grandfather were both public administrators who had widened their base of
authority. Thus in the year 37 BC Herod the Great was made king of Judea by the Romans. An
imperious king, Herod promoted Hellenization among the Jews. He founded the city of
Caesarea and rebuilt much of Jerusalem, including the Temple. He was a capable leader--but
he was notoriously cruel. He executed three of his sons as well as his second wife. Cruelty
became a family tradition. It was his son Herod Antipas who had John the Baptist beheaded. So
we should not be surprised at Herod the Great's violent reaction when he learned that these
three wise men had disobeyed him. When they did not return, Herod was so angry that he
initiated what has become known in Christian tradition as "the slaughter of the innocents."
Dear God, may my actions be holy and honorable to you. Amen.
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