“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. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: ‘A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.’” (Matthew 2:16-18) The Gospel lesson for the Sunday after Christmas seems a terrible departure from the joy and pageant of Christmas.  Instead, however, the slaughter of the innocents is simply the first sign of the total disrupting power of the Incarnation.  The light has come into the world and the darkness still rages against it.  In this awful instance, the darkness is visible in a tyrant’s murderous refusal to accept the newborn King; to accept God’s grand reversal of all the old ways.  The Light has come and the darkness cannot overcome it, but still it tries.  The ancient church understood this and chose the first three days after Christmas to mark the cost of discipleship.  December 26 is the feast of St. Stephen who witnessed to Christ through both his words and his death.  December 27 commemorates John the Apostle who witnessed to Christ through his words but was spared the martyr’s death.  Finally, the 28th marks our text for it is the commemoration of the Holy Innocents, the first martyrs who witnessed through their deaths but not their words because they did not have any.  These are the companions of Christ who accompany our Lord into the world, into the darkness.  In 2023 to what dark places will our Lord call you to accompany him?  To what parts of our hurting world will you follow the Lord of Light?  Perhaps you’ll go to the other side of the world or perhaps your call will be to go next door.  Wherever it is, be not afraid our Lord has overcome the world and bids us share the good news in word and deed.  Have a great week and Happy New Year!