Today, on this solemn feast of the Holy Innocents, we remember the tragic event where King Herod, driven by jealousy and fear, ordered the slaughter of countless innocent children in Bethlehem. In his quest for power, Herod didn’t flinch at the shedding of innocent blood. He attempted to eliminate the very hope that the birth of Jesus represented to the world. This heart-wrenching narrative from our Gospel echoes throughout history and speaks to us today about the grave importance of protecting the innocent, especially our children.
In our first reading from the First Letter of John, we are reminded that “God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.” Darkness thrives in a world turned away from the light. Herod epitomizes this darkness—a figure whose addiction to power led him to commit unspeakable acts against innocence. Sadly, modern Herods persist in our midst, sacrificing the well-being of children on the altar of greed, ambition, and moral decay.
Children are an inherent part of who we are as a society. They represent hope, purity, and the untainted promise of the future. Yet, we find ourselves living in a culture that, in many ways, has neglected to protect this innocence. Consider the media landscape populated by entities that we should be able to trust, such as Disney, a company historically synonymous with childhood joy and imagination. Instead, we find ourselves confronting these studios that embolden agendas contrary to the faith and values we hold dear having to boycott them due to the repulsive and diabolical nature of their productions. What was once a sanctuary of innocence for our children has become, in certain ways, a vehicle that can manipulate and distort their understanding of right and wrong.
Of course, what can be worse than Disney exploiting and abusing our children is the abuse that has come at the hands of clergy and religious who, whether infiltrators into the Church or not, will have to answer to legitimate authority, the highest of which is God himself. We pray for all of these people who put our children at risk and who have caused scandal in the world unlike we have ever seen before.
The readings today invite us to introspection. We are called to “walk in the light” and to acknowledge our sins, recognizing that even in our attempts to protect our children, even if albeit we have never abused them intentionally, we too can become complicit in a culture that seeks to undermine their innocence. We must ask ourselves, are we confronting the darkness that threatens to envelop these little ones, or are we complacently allowing it to flourish?
By standing firm in our faith and in our values, by advocating for the truth, we can resist the influences that lead our children away from the light. Each time we choose to support consuming media and entertainment that nurtures virtue rather than vice, we protect the very essence of our children's innocence. It becomes our sacred duty, as adults and caregivers, to be vigilant gatekeepers of their development, leading them on paths that reflect the Kingdom of God.
Today, as we reflect on the massacre of the innocent children in Bethlehem, let us also remember the realities faced by children today. Let us pray for those who suffer violence, for those who are abandoned, and for those who are diminished by our societal choices. Let us hold high the banner of truth and goodness, reminding ourselves that in each child, there is a reflection of God’s promise. We must affirm their dignity and ensure that they are nurtured in safe environments filled with love, compassion, and virtue.
May God, the giver of life, guide us with His light and enable us to show the steadfast love and protection that every child deserves. Our Lady, Queen of all God’s children, pray for us who have recourse to thee. Amen.
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