Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs

Lectionary: 698

God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say, "We have fellowship with him, while we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do not act in truth.

Mystical writers in the Catholic tradition like to remind us the Cross is entirely beautiful and entirely graceful. In the cross “there is no darkness at all.” Saint John echoes that sentiment throughout his Gospel and Letters, “the light shone in darkness and the darkness could not overcome it.”There is a raw courage in such statements because jaded and cynical critics of the Gospel can see only the horror of crucifixion. Given today’s feast of the Holy Innocents they must ask, “Is this child worth the massacre of baby boys in Bethlehem?”
There really is no answer to that question. Once it has been sounded the rational mind reels to find an explanation and none is forthcoming. The bible scholar’s suggestion that this incident, though plausible given King Herod’s reputation, is probably apocryphal – doesn’t mollify anyone. If the story is not historically true it is nonetheless true that tyranny has slain millions of innocent and defenseless persons. Does human life in all its splendor justify such atrocities? 
Nor does apostasy give any relief. Although some lose their faith in God after suffering trauma, their suffering is only compounded by the choice of atheism.
I return to that mysterious expression of the other day, that “you neither earned nor deserve this….” this blessing? this curse? Are they perhaps the same thing?
The mystic declares there is no shadow in the cross because, speaking only for herself, her wounds were flooded not with infection but with grace. I don’t suppose she arrived at that mystical insight in one night. Rather, it came to her like the dawn, gradually.
But the healing is so marvelous she hardly remembers her distress; as Jesus said,

When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world.

Jesus honors the distress we feel as we reflect on the death of the Innocents, and especially on the horrors we still witness in the evening news,

So you also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. On that day you will not question me about anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.

We have seen this mystery in the life of Mary. She did not ask to be the Mother of God and did not expect the death of her son but received both in the confidence that God is worthy of all her faith, hope and love.
Unearned blessings and undeserved curses, accepted gratefully and with an open heart, usher us into God’s presence. Impelled by the Holy Spirit and escorted by the Son we kneel before God the Father.