As we consider how God is about doing a new thing in our lives, there is much resistance in our world, particularly in the Middle East. So, I'm re-publishing the post I wrote last year at this time. It behooves us to know that change comes with a price in that it shines light on the shadows.
Today is a day set aside in the church calendar year to remember the innocent children slaughtered at the hands of Herod. What a profound story this is. Here you have an infant who is utterly helpless and this babe is given power because of a dream. Then someone who appears to hold any power he wants is so threatened by this infant that he must annihilate all infants in order to save his power. Innocence is sacrificed so that power can be maintained. It is not the infant who evokes such fear, rather it is the possibility of change, of losing power, privilege, status, and security - this evokes such fear. The infant is the archetype for all that is possible. A new soul has entered into this world and ahead are endless possibilities, the Incarnate image of God in our midst. The King is the archetype for ultimate power and control, the human ego. The ruler who determines what is possible and what is not possible and meets out the consequences to any who might think otherwise.
At face value this stories depicts the extreme of what one is capable of doing to maintain power and control, and unfortunately this story continues to be all too real to so many innocents in our world every day. However, the reality is that both exists in each of us. The struggle between following the path of potential and following the path of security play out every day within our own psyches, which then manifests in our relationships. Fear is what motivates us to sacrifice the potential available in our lives.
As we reflect upon the year that is past and the year to come, may we all be given the courage to say no to our fear and yes to our potential.
The Collect for this occasion is as follows:
"We remember today, O God, the slaughter of the holy innocents of Bethlehem by King Herod. Receive, we pray, into the arms of your mercy all innocent victims; and by your great might frustrate the designs of evil tyrants and establish your rule of justice, love, and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
Wow, how cool is that! So glad you posted these, since I had to work today it wasn't in the cards for me...unless I played hooky!
Posted by: Sue | January 17, 2009 at 03:53 PM