December 28, 2025
The Saints of December -- Holy Innocents
Matthew 2:16
12/28/2025
16 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. (ESV)
Matthew tells of the visit of the Magi to see the infant
Jesus. Being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, the Magi
left Bethlehem and avoided returning to Jerusalem. ``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.''
These innocent boys were collateral damage in Satan's war
against Jesus. Not only do their deaths remind us of the
terrible brutality of which human beings are capable, but also
that Jesus, from the beginning of His life had to contend with
persecution.
The Feast of the Holy Innocents comes three days after our
celebration of Christmas. Again we are reminded of the cost of
discipleship, that all people are affected by the birth of Christ
Jesus.
Why are the infant boys considered martyrs? We certainly
expect that the boys were circumcised on the eighth day, thus
they were marked as God's children according to the law of Moses.
They would not have been slaughtered if the Christ had not been
born among them. Their deaths on account of Christ point to the
later martyrs who also bore His name.
May our Lord give us the faith to be ready for the day He
calls us to Himself, that we may give the good witness of our
confidence in Jesus. Amen.