The martyrdom of the Holy Innocents, victims of human
cruelty fueled by fear and ambition, confounds all of our neat theological
categories with its dazzling simplicity. The only explanation, it seems to
me, for the authenticity of this collective martyrdom of will-less children who
cannot even speak, comes from Jesus himself: “Blessed are those persecuted for
justice’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.” Why did God become man? —
To die in the place of man. And why were the Holy Innocents born? — To die in
the place of Christ, so that he could go forward with his work of redemption.
In both cases, the reason is: just because…
the just-because of pure love.
It is the gratuity of God’s choice and the absolute efficacy of divine grace, and not human purposefulness and effort, that create witnesses to the magnificence of God’s saving love. Let us, then, reap the great hope offered us by this feast—to us who have to struggle daily with the sluggishness of our rebellious will and heart.
