Sermon for the Commemoration of the Martyrdom of the Holy Innocents, 2025

So much we can learn from this in our dark days, in the midst of all our troubles, the troubles of our living circumstances, and the troubles of our lives. For there is great slaughter happening in our midst also, as countless children are ripped not from their mothers’ arms, but from their wombs. They are put to death, not because of some order by some despot. They are put to death by those who bear and are supposed to protect life, not take it. 

Still, just like the Holy Innocents of Bethlehem, these little ones have that one thing going for them: they do not have to experience or suffer all of the grief, sorrows, and troubles that we must go through in the many years of our wilderness trek through life. Their anguish is short. Not so, their mothers’, nor ours: we sorrow. 

And yet we learn from these, albeit horrid, events, not to sorrow as others who have no hope. For when we sorrow, we may be confident that the Lord understands our sorrowing hearts and does not hold them against us; on the contrary, He would say to us, as the midwife said to Rachel, “Do not fear; you shall bear this child.” That is to say, “You shall find your way through this grief, this hardship, this sorrow, this darkness, whatever it may be, however deep, however horrid, however oppressive.” Even if you do not feel or experience the joy that ought to follow it in this life, nevertheless, it will most surely come, just as surely as the resurrection of the Man of sorrows came; who, on Easter evening, stood before His fear-filled and, no doubt, sorrowing Disciples, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 

In Him, we hope. In Him, we trust, no matter how—and especially when—dark our road.

Readings:

• Old Testament: Jeremiah 31:15-17

• Epistle: Revelation 14:1-5

• Holy Gospel: Matthew 2:13-18

  
  

Sermon: