Remember...

Peter Paul Rubens

"The Holy Innocents" (Matthew 2:13-18)
(on this day of the “Feast of the Holy Innocents”)

Why, O God,
must we remember
the words
of the slaughter
of the Holy Innocents
today? 

Just days ago,
we sought the Christ-child.

The heavens exploded
with joy
and proclamation
and we raised our candles
as if they were
the soft twinkling
of stars in the
Bethlehem night sky.

We heard once again
the story
of shepherds running
from their flocks,
to the very place
where Love was born
and our hearts
were filled with their
excitement.

We are now looking East,
toward the horizon
for magi
bearing gifts
and we wonder
what gifts
might we also bring.

Why, O God …
Why must we remember
these Holy Innocents now
when we have knelt
at a manger
to witness Love
first-hand?

It is
less painful
and sorrowful
for us
to close
our eyes
to all of this.

Is it because
there are still
Innocents today?
In South Sudan or Aleppo ...
or in our own streets?
Nameless and named?

Is it because
there are still
Innocents today ?
Hungry
and cold?
Nameless and named? 

Is it because
there are still
Holy Innocents today?
Battered and bruised
in the very place
they call home?
Nameless and named? 

Why, O God,
must we remember
the Holy Innocents?
"Because, my child,
there are Innocents
in this world today,
and
mothers
weeping and
refusing to be
comforted.
There are still
Herods who
have both
great power and
great fear
within them."

"You must not forget
and you must not
look away."

(c) 2016 revised anna murdock, used by permission