For the majority of Christians belonging to denominations that follow a liturgical calendar, a lesser known, but very important date is fast approaching.
The Feast of the Holy Innocents is observed by Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Lutheran and Anglican churches. The day remembers King Herod’s slaughter of all male children (under two years of age) in Bethlehem in his attempt to kill Jesus Christ, whom he feared would be a rival king.
Widely celebrated on Saturday, December 28, the day is also referred to as the Slaughter (or Massacre) of the Holy Innocents. We find an account of the slaughter in Matthew 2:16-18:
“Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
“‘A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more’” (ESV).
But why is such a day celebrated? St. Augustine of Hippo, in a homily he delivered commemorating the feast day, gives us the answer.
He referred to these little children as “infant martyr flowers,” recognizing that they were the first martyrs of the Christian church.
By their lives and deaths, these little children bore witness to the Savior and His coming. In fact, the early church believed – and St. Augustine affirmed – that because these young children were the church’s first martyrs, God welcomed them into heaven upon their deaths. “The Church exult[s],” St. Augustine wrote, “She, the fruitful mother of so many heavenly champions and of such glorious virtue.”
He added,
For this reason, St. Augustine explains, the church celebrates the Slaughter of the Holy Innocents. Not because King Herod’s murder of them was a good thing – no, not at all. It was an immensely unjust and evil massacre. In fact, Scripture tells us that God “hates … hands that shed innocent blood” (Proverbs 6:17, ESV).
But what King Herod meant for evil, God can used for good.
Today, the slaughter of the Holy Innocents is a reminder of the immense value of human life – born and preborn.
It is also an opportunity to reflect upon the scourge of abortion in our culture. In truth, the average Planned Parenthood today carries out a slaughter far higher than King Herod’s on a slow Tuesday.
As Christians, we must continue our faith’s long heritage of standing up for the voiceless and most defenseless among us – the preborn.
In fact, the Christian church has done more than any other institution in history to promote the value of life. And we are doing better today than anytime in Church history. Before the arrival of Jesus Christ, human life was seen as cheap. Human beings were killed in the Roman gladiatorial arena for pure entertainment. Unwanted newborn infants were left to die of exposure.
Christians, on the other hand, rescued these helpless babies and adopted them as their own.
Indeed, the Christian tradition has condemned abortion as a grave evil since its inception. Of course, the church has also affirmed that by the grace of Christ, the sin of abortion can be forgiven.
Since Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973, more than 63 million preborn babies have been killed by abortion. Thankfully, the abortion rate has fallen in recent decades, after reaching a peak around 1990.
Photo Credit: Pew Research Center
As pro-life supporters, though there is much work ahead, the dramatic decline in our nation’s abortion rate should not be easily dismissed. The pro-life movement, and the Christian church, has made much progress in fostering a culture of life.
But more work remains to be done.
Dr. Bill Lile recently appeared on an episode of Focus on the Family with Jim Daly. Dr. Lile is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology, and he provides compelling and practical information about the dangers of abortion and the value of preborn life.
He highlights the rights of every preborn baby as a patient, the risks associated with the abortion pill, and the overwhelming success and benefits of Abortion Pill Reversal. He also encourages listeners to create a culture of life, supporting pregnancy centers and Focus on the Family pro-life efforts.
You can watch the interview with Dr. Lile below:
As the new year approaches, will you prayerfully consider additional ways you can get involved in the pro-life movement? Consider volunteering at your local pregnancy resource center, reading a book to become more educated on the life issue, and donating to Focus on the Family’s Option Ultrasound program – just $60 can save the life of a preborn baby today.
If you are experiencing an unexpected pregnancy and want to learn more about your options, visit My Choice Network.
To speak with a family help specialist or request resources, please call us at 1-800-A-FAMILY (232-6459).
Related articles and resources:
Counseling Consultation & Referrals
Shouting the Worth of Every Person
Scriptures Advocating for the Pre-Born
Honoring the Preborn: Cerian’s Story
Protecting Babies at Every Stage of Life
Preborn Baby Smiles After Hearing Dad’s Voice During Ultrasound
Jesus’ Story, The Biblical Calendar, and the Demonic Slaughter of the Innocents
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