This sermon is based on Mathew (2:13-18) which was taken by a preacher in a church I attended.
Well, I think today's gospel reading is undoubtedly the darkest part of the Christmas story. In fact, the massacre, the holy innocence, is probably the most horrific story in the New Testament. And it comes as no surprise, therefore that this has been the least popular biblical passage for preachers.
And I'll be honest, I'm not sure if in 28 years that I've actually preached on this passage. Here we go. And the church historically has often viewed it rather awkwardly. The flight into Egypt rarely appears as a Christmas card illustration. Or so it seems to me. Now, from Matthew's point of view, we are probably being given an insight into King Herod's true cruel and grotesque character, ordering the brutal killing of every newborn child in Bethlehem under the age of two in order to get rid of the threat he saw in the infant Jesus to his own authority. The whole idea is so abhorrent.
And the feast of the holy innocence, sometimes referred to as children mass,
is a festival that seems to hang heavy in the Christian liturgical calendar.
And the church tried to make it a little more acceptable by regarding the murdered children as the first Christian martyrs, even if unknowingly so. Now if such a story was true, it would be the very height of human barbarism. But most scholars tell us there is no factual basis for this story. So we cannot know for sure of well its historicity is in doubt. But it almost certainly developed out of the story of Pharaoh's attempt to kill the Israelite children as related in the book of Exodus. but as told in an expanded version that was doing the rounds in the first century.
But the lack of any solid historical evidence for this story does not negate its power to move us. It still resonates with horrific accuracy, the most evil and depraved tendencies in human nature. And from a biblical standpoint, this tragic story has been taken to emphasize the story of sacrifice and salvation in the bigger picture.
But it also speaks of how vulnerable children have been in the face of brutal
governmental power. In fact, if we look through the whole of
human history, we find that children have not really fared well in adult
communities at all. Historically, children were often seen as a property. They were very much regarded as miniature adults.
In the Middle Ages, forced child labour was prevalent throughout Europe.
Children worked as soon as they were able. 8 to 9year-olds were being sent out in the fields to work brutally long hours. Children were subjected to all kinds of
abuse. Education was minimal and they had limited rights if indeed they had any rights at all. So, it's not surprising that there was high infant mortality and children fared a little better around the period of the so-called enlightenment.
During the industrial revolution, children became cheap labour in dangerous factories, mines, and mills, facing all kinds of exploitation and abuse. Young girls were forced into prostitution. a situation which tragically still continues in some parts of the world today. Many children ended up in criminal gangs. Charles Dickens, of course, was well aware of the exploitation of children in London's underworld, graphically depicted in the memorable story of Oliver Twist.
But there have been some interesting historical glimpses of concern for
children. Hints of light in the darkness of Holy Innocence Day. In the medieval Northern Europe, the day was a festival of inversion involving role reversal between children, adults such as teachers and priests.
And the December tradition, which I'm sure many of you know of, of electing a boy bishop to preside over certain church services, is an extraordinary example of bringing the value of children into greater prominence.
In Northern England, children were indulged on this day. Parties were held for them. And in some localities, shock horror, they were allowed to play in the church.
There was the slow realization perhaps that children should allow be allowed to
be children. They needed a childhood. They needed play and discovery. Different views on infancy have prevailed over recent centuries. But the rise of organized faith traditions placed an emphasis on the divine element present in children as well as acknowledging their innocence, purity and of course their vulnerability.
And this journey shows a very gradual and rather uneven recognition of
childhood. But in enlightened cultures, children now have rights,
welfare education opportunities, and hopefully a family life. We recognize it is morally necessary to protect each child's rights, dignity, and well-being. And we now have established child safeguarding practices and laws. So the biblical story, true or not, emphasizes how vulnerable children have always been.
And this festival should remind us of the sanctity of childhood. a timeless reminder of our continued obligation and moral duty to defend and protect the rights of our children who are the most vulnerable among us. We cannot sugarcoat the messages that emerge out of the original story of the massacre of the holy innocence. We cannot be complacent. Many children today still face issues including violence, exploitation, neglect, and limited access to health care and education. So groups like the NPCC and the Children's Society still have a big role to play.
And of course, the digital era has brought its own challenges for safeguarding.
Children are now at risk from improper internet use or content, cyber bullying
and online exploitation. And the greatest and most painful shame
we have to acknowledge is the abuse that has occurred within the Christian church in recent times. So the work continues.
We know that Jesus recognized the lowly status of children in his own culture
and sought to challenge that. Remember, he rebuked his disciples for turning
them away. He loved children and he blessed them. Jesus love for children demonstrated to the world that true greatness lies in serving the vulnerable, welcoming them as we would welcome Jesus himself.
