Holy Innocents, Martyrs

St. Matthew 2.13-18

December 28, 2025

+INJ+

“These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation.” This day’s liturgy applies those words to the little children of Bethlehem cut down by Herod’s sword. “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation.” The little children suffered the great tribulation. But it is not limited to them. The great tribulation is a vast span of terror, from the babies Pharaoh ordered thrown into the Nile, to today’s little children dismembered by the billion-dollar abortion business.

With today’s Gospel, it’s no Silent Night in Bethlehem. Did the people who praised God and marveled at Jesus’ birth turn to cursing Him? It seems the Divine plan is only about protecting the infant Jesus. He escapes, but the children of Bethlehem do not.

But Jesus doesn’t really escape. His doom is delayed. It is for all the children of Adam that Christ came into this world. He will experience all their sufferings. “That it might be fulfilled” is twice repeated in these six short verses, revealing to us that God’s plan is to join Himself to all the suffering of the human race—not only the children of Bethlehem, but the slaves in Egypt, the weeping of Rachel, the lamentation of Jeremiah, the bitterness of Job, and the suffering of all those dear to Him.

For all these the Psalmist writes, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” Every one of you is dear to God and valued. It doesn’t feel that way when you are going through the tribulations of this life, some caused by your own sins, some by the sins of others.

But into all these troubles Jesus enters. He assumes them into Himself. Every great tribulation from the beginning of the world He goes through, so that He can rescue all victims. “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” The blood of His tribulation cleanses us from our own.

For what? He makes you, right where you are, Josephs and Marys, that is, men and women with sacred vocations. Mary is called to be wife and mother—to submit to her husband, and care for children and nurture them. Joseph is called to be husband and father—to guard women and children and provide for them. While doing all this, King Herod still lives. He has traded in his sword for scissors and poison. He crushes skulls and harvests organs. He masquerades as a “gender-affirming” surgeon, mutilating and sterilizing teenagers who have discovered that puberty is really difficult. Herod is in Nigeria, and Syria, and China. Herod filibusters in the Senate, and lectures at Ivy League law schools.

The Great Tribulation is taking place today across the globe. To protect his adopted son, Joseph fled. What action is God calling you to take, to protect and care for little children today? God calls some to marriage and childbearing, others to adoption, still others to teach Sunday School, or donate to your local Lutheran school.

The conclusion of the matter is certain. God has a plan. Through the holy prophet Jeremiah, the LORD says to Rachel, the personification of the weeping mother, whose children have been carried into captivity: “There is hope for your future.”

Bear your suffering patiently. Remember you are part of God’s larger story. He’s written you into it. At Baptism, His own name He inscribed on your forehead. You belong to Him, and you shall live with the risen Christ in His kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness.

God has a plan. And you are a part of it: you will be rescued from the Great Tribulation, washed by the blood of the Lamb. Until that day, care for all the little ones God puts in your path. +INJ+