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December 28, 2023Rachel weeping for her children,
and she would not be consoled,
since they were no more.Not only Rachel, but also mothers and fathers in Gaza, Israel, Ukraine, Sudan, and in countries everywhere where war, hunger, cancer, abuse, cartels, and guns take the lives of children daily.
Thoughts and prayers offered by those at a distance are important. However, surely more is required. Anne Rice offered a creative sequel to the slaughter of these innocent children in Bethlehem. In her novel, Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt, she imagined how the child Jesus processed this unthinkable outrage when his parents finally told him. Better to hear it from Mary and Joseph than from others about those infant boys killed because of him.
Of course, it was not because of him. A tyrant decreed the slaughter. Though innocent, how did knowledge of this event shape Jesus’ maturing self-understanding and mission? Though not sinless, how do we actively promote justice and peace to mitigate the need for sobbing and loud lamentation?
