Reflection - In the face of Grief

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/122816.cfm
1 JN 1:5–2:2
MT 2:13-18

There's a common phrase regularly heard during the months of November and December which we have all probably said at one time or another: "I'll get to that after the holidays." The comment implies that a better time, a less contentious time, a more opportune time will come when the 'chaos' of the holidays is finished. In other words, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years will be over; and we will have reached the end of the celebrating. As much as we may look forward to these holidays, there is also a yearning for a period of calm after all the busyness. The church encourages us to think differently; and it uses this week's Scripture selections to make its point.

Today's Gospel presents the account of the male infants living in and around Bethlehem in the few years after the birth of Jesus. There probably weren't many to be slain by the soldiers. Bethlehem was a small community; and, even if the surrounding area is included, the number of males under the age of two wouldn't have been very large. Maybe as few as ten. Possibly as many as fifty. In any case, it's doubtful that scenes of the slaughter would involve the kind of numbers portrayed in sacred art or cinema. Still, the community would have been devastated and parents would have been grief-stricken, sobbing and even inconsolable with loud lamentation because the children were no more.

This is the Gospel story we have today and the feast is that of the Holy Innocents. It is a tale of small children who died simply because someone found God's will unacceptable.

But, this is Wednesday's Gospel, and the week began with the martyrdom of Stephen. His story is that of a man who "did great wonders and signs among the people;" and, when questioned about his actions gave witness to the Crucified and the wonders that God had done among his people. He too was found unacceptable and died by stoning because some found the truth abhorrent.

On Tuesday we celebrated the feast of St John, Evangelist and martyr. We know him best as the Apostle that Jesus loved and as the author of the fourth Gospel. The church, however, also considers him a martyr. While in Rome, John was thrown into a pot of boiling oil, but emerged unharmed. 

Thursday is the feast of Thomas a' Beckett, an English bishop, who was killed for refusing to cooperate with King Henry II in defying Rome. 

And finally on Friday we have the feast day of the Holy Family. You would think that at least for this day the Gospel would be a joyful one. Think again. We celebrate the Holy Family by recalling their narrow escape from Herod's slaughter of the Bethlehem infants. They became exiles for a time in the land of Egypt.

Notice the discordance and seeming incongruity which is offered for our consideration as we spiritually attend to the last week of the year.

First, 'To us a child is born, to us a son is given; and his name will be called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."'

But then, 

     A man is stoned because others disagree with his beliefs.

     A man is boiled in oil because those in authority find him offensive.

     Children are slain by the sword because a king fears the loss of power.

     A bishop is put to death for remaining faithful to God.

     A small family of three become refugees because of an evil ruler.

It is pleasant and joyful to recall the birth of the Christ child. Sugar cookies and sugar plum fairies cheer our hearts. Tinkling bells and twinkling lights raise our spirits. Cheerful greetings and Yuletide carols invite us to be renewed in our commitment to love. It's a heartwarming time of year. But it is, in fact, the end of nothing; rather, it is the beginning of everything. The malevolent side of the world's face still exists and it cannot be sugarcoated. And you don't need me to tell you that incidents like those in this week's Gospel readings are darkly echoed in the headline news of today.

So the church suggests that we should not be overcome by sentiment.

Yes, our Savior came to us as a child, helpless in his infancy and helpless in his humanity. But we are reminded that "God's power is made perfect in weakness." (II Corinthians 12:9) and Our Lord came as an infant, an infant with the power to conquer death. When we received the news of his birth, when we received the news of his life and when we received the news of his death, we also received the news of his resurrection. When the Gospel, the ultimate Good News came to us, it "came to us not only in word, but also in power." (I Thessalonians 1:5) for "The kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power." (1 Corinthians 4:20)

We remember the birth of this child with wonder and joy; and rightly so.

We also remember those who are persecuted, those who are killed, those who are forced into exile, those who suffer all the vagaries of life. But now, as we turn from that day of celebration we have every reason to "Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees." We have every reason to "Say to those who are of a fearful heart,"Be strong, fear not! Behold, your God will come. He will come and save you." (Isaiah 35:3-4) This infant has come with power! In the end, before he returned to his father, it was he, himself who told us how to approach the contradictions we are presented with as we move forward from the day of his birth into the days where evil still exists

"In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)