December 28, 2023   

Today's Reading: Matthew 2:13-18

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 52:13-54:10; Matthew 2:13-23

“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.” (Matthew 2:18)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Merry Fourth Day of Christmas!

“The Boy who lived.”  In the Harry Potter novels, that is a phrase that refers to Harry.  No one could withstand the evil Voldemort, and his murderous rampage.  That is, until Harry.  Harry’s mother gave her life defending her one-year-old son, and when the murdering curse was cast, the baby miraculously survived. Harry was then placed into hiding by people who cared about him, so he could survive and one day help others.

As the story goes on, the reader discovers that this all had to take place, so that Harry could in fact, one day lay down his own life in love and courage for the protection of others, and then return to life.  Sound familiar?  

St. Matthew proclaims the real “Boy who lived.”  While King Herod orders the murder of all toddler and baby boys near Bethlehem, God sends an angel to warn St. Joseph to smuggle the Blessed Virgin and her Son to safety.  God’s plan would not be fulfilled had the Christ Child been killed in this way.  The fullness of time would come later, after living perfectly and going to Jerusalem to lay down His life as the Lamb of God on the altar of the cross.

Today the Church recalls the infant martyrs who were slain by Herod’s evil plan, but takes comfort in our loving and merciful Lord who gathered those little ones into His arms in paradise.  Enduring such horrors, their mothers would be hard pressed to find any comfort.  The true “Boy who lived” is no ordinary boy, but the God who created us all.  He is the One victorious over death and the devil, and can give peace and comfort that surpasses understanding.  Rachel refused to be comforted, because sin, death, and the devil had not yet been fully conquered.  But the Christ Child grew and at the fullness of time, laid down His life for us all.  

At the cross, the death of these Holy Innocents lost its comfortless horror and grief.  Jesus’ own death and resurrection bring the holy comfort that heals and soothes their mothers, and the whole Church.  In His saving and life-giving work, we can share in the joy and bliss that the Holy Innocents have already been experiencing since the moment they departed this life, and were embraced by their Lord.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Almighty God, the martyred innocents of Bethlehem showed forth Your praise not by speaking but by dying.  Put to death in us all that is in conflict with Your will that our lives may bear witness to the faith we profess with our lips; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. 

-Pastor Richard Heinz is pastor at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lowell, IN.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, Ky.

Study Christ's words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.