7. The Massacre of the Innocents
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.
When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi,
he became furious.
He ordered the massacre of all the boys
in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under,
in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi.
Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet:
“A voice was heard in Ramah,
sobbing and loud lamentation;
Rachel weeping for her children,
and she would not be consoled,
since they were no more.”
MT 2:16-18
Lesson 7
Herod’s massacre of boys emphasizes his fear of a potential rival in Jesus
The book of the prophet
Jeremiah (31:15) portrays Rachel, wife of the patriarch Jacob, weeping for
her children taken into exile at the time of the Assyrian invasion of the
northern kingdom (722–721 B.C.). Bethlehem was
traditionally identified with Ephrath, the place near
which Rachel was buried (see Genesis 35:19; 48:7), and the mourning
of Rachel is here applied to her lost children of a later age. Ramah:
about six miles north of Jerusalem. The lamentation of Rachel is so great
as to be heard at a far distance.
Prayer
Let the just rejoice, for their
justifier is born. Let the sick and infirm rejoice, for their savior is
born. Let the captives rejoice, for their Redeemer is born. Let
slaves rejoice, for their Master is born. Let free men rejoice, for their
Liberator is born. Let All Christians rejoice, for Jesus Christ is born.
Amen.