BLOG 12/28/17. THE DARK SIDE OF THE NATIVITY OBSERVANCE

BLOG 12/28/17. THE DARK SIDE OF THE NATIVITY OBSERVANCE

Perhaps a brief, and more tragic and tearful reminder of one (too often ignored) piece of the Christmas celebration is in order before we move into 2018. It is provoked by the fact that in the church’s liturgical calendar, today is the Observance of The Massacre of the Innocents, (or as euphemistically rendered most of the time simply: Holy Innocents). After local churches and public displays of the nativity of Jesus and adoring parents, shepherds, and others, … one probably will never see any display of hysterically weeping parents holding slaughtered babies after a wicked king ordered them killed, … but such is a significant piece of the Biblical account.

When the astrologers, or wise men, from the East asked the jealous King Herod where they might find the one born king of the Jews, Herod consulted his own advisors and pointed the astrologers to the town of Bethlehem with the requirement that when they found this one born as a competitor king, they would report back to him. And when they didn’t do that, but returned to their homeland after worshiping the infant Jesus, and giving him gifts, … Herod panicked. He, thereupon, order the slaughtering of all male babies under two years of age. And so, great lamentation and weeping was heard in the land (Matthew 2:18).

That’s a very real part of the whole nativity observance that has been conveniently expunged. (Rather, we rush on into the New Year’s Day celebrations, bowl games, and end of the year sales in the stores.)

Ready for this? How is that much different from political policies, and governmental actions that today are enacted for political gain, which deprive the populace of programs of health, education, and the necessary accoutrements for the necessities required for the welfare for our children, as well as financial policies for their working parents … carried out in acts of pure political origin to assure that the dominant party remain dominant? Is that too much of a stretch? Or our nation’s use of foreign aid that seems to marginalize any concern for human rights, or the great host of children who are the unwitting victims, who on this winter of 2018 are refugees living in tents in below zero weather, victims of political programs that have no regard for human rights.

You’re going to say to me that I am a typical political progressive. That’s true. But I also run my own minor political position through my Sermon on the Mount ethical guidelines in order to discern who is concerned for peacemaking, mercy, identification with the poor (poor in spirit), justice, and those who mourn. Those are not Democratic or Republican in origin, but are the principles of the Kingdom of God, of God’s New Creation in Christ. Children and adults who are homeless, poor, refugees, sick, victims of unrighteous policies are a priority for Jesus, … and should be of those who are his followers.

I know, I’ve blogged this to you before. But the observance of the Massacre of the Innocents reminds me that the world, and our nation, are still the scene of political jealousy, and of policies that destroy humankind. “Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.” Amen.

[If you find these blogs helpful and provocative, encourage you friends to subscribe. And, again, I always value your feedback comments. Now into 2018 “praying always with all prayer and supplication …”]

About rthenderson

Sixty years a pastor-teacher within the Presbyterian Church. Author of several books, the latest of which are a trilogy on missional ecclesiology: ENCHANTED COMMUNITY: JOURNEY INTO THE MYSTERY OF THE CHURCH, then, REFOUNDING THE CHURCH FROM THE UNDERSIDE, then THE CHURCH AND THE RELENTLESS DARKNESS. Previous to this trilogy was A DOOR OF HOPE: SPIRITUAL CONFLICT IN PASTORAL MINISTRY, and SUBVERSIVE JESUS, RADICAL FAITH. I am a native of West Palm Beach, Florida, a graduate of Davidson College, then of Columbia and Westminster Theological Seminaries.
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One Response to BLOG 12/28/17. THE DARK SIDE OF THE NATIVITY OBSERVANCE

  1. margaret harris says:

    Thank you for bringing us this image. I certainly don’t think about the infants slaughtered, rather I gloss over the facts with Christmas trappings.As always I appreciate your observations on the coming new year.

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