1 John 1:5 - 2:2 / Matthew 2:13-18
The Christmas story has its setting in the town of Bethlehem.
Whenever the name of that town is mentioned in the Nativity story or in the Christmas carol "O little town of Bethlehem" we will warm thoughts of the Nativity scene and the characters there adoring the Baby Jesus.
Moreover, Bethlehem means the "house of bread" and the infant Jesus who is the "bread of life" lying in the manger, a feeding trough for animals, gives an overall profound spiritual meaning.
All this is indeed very uplifting. But the reality of rejection and persecution of the infant Jesus sets in almost as quickly when king Herod came into the picture.
When he realized that he had been outwitted by the wise men, he was furious and he ordered the massacre of all the male children aged two and below, and he turned Bethlehem into a "house of blood".
His fear of the infant king of the Jews and his insecurity made him shed the blood of the children just like how stale bread is thrown away.
But today the Church remembers those innocent children and proclaimed them as Holy Innocents and acknowledged that they suffered for Jesus and also proclaimed them as martyrs.
Indeed, the kingdom of God belongs to the children and to those who are helpless and defenceless against the violence and hostility of those who are fearful and insecure.
May we also come to the help and defence of children and those who are helpless and defenceless, so that just as the Holy Innocents proclaimed Jesus by their deaths, may we proclaim Jesus with our lives.