When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the magi. Then what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
A voice was heard in Ramah,
wailing and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.—Matthew 2:16–18
Even though we often omit it from our Christmas pageants and sermons, the Massacre of the Innocents recounted in Matthew 2 is part of the Christmas story. December 28 is set apart yearly to commemorate the babies who lost their lives in this slaughter. View posts on this subject from previous years here and here.
LOOK: Massacre of the Innocents by Lippo Memmi (attrib.)
In the Collegiate Church of San Gimignano, this scene is part of a narrative cycle on Christ’s infancy in six upper bays, comprising also the Annunciation, the Nativity and Adoration of the Shepherds, the Adoration of the Magi, the Presentation in the Temple, and the Flight to Egypt.
LISTEN: “And Herod Rages On” | Words by Kate Bluett, 2020 | Music by Elise Massa, 2020 | Performed by Elise Massa
The streets ran red in Bethlehem;
our little boys were gone
when soldiers came on Herod’s whim,
but Herod rages on.
No newborn king his light should dim;
he’d be the only dawn,
sent men to tear them limb from limb—
and Herod rages on.Two thousand years, all filled with births
and stained as red as dawn
by blood that soaks the thirsty earth,
still Herod rages on.
And what is all this bloodshed worth,
our sons and daughters gone,
but barren fields and empty hearths,
while Herod rages on?Dear infant Christ in Joseph’s arms,
escaped before the dawn,
O come and heal how we’ve been harmed,
for Herod rages on.
The sirens shriek, deep fear alarms;
when will you make them gone?
Or must we wait ’til hate’s disarmed?
For Herod rages on.The stones that wept in Abel’s gore
cry out with every dawn
’til swords are laid down evermore,
while Herod rages on.
Someday he’ll fall to rise no more;
someday he will be gone.
Our hearts ’til then are bleeding sore,
and Herod rages on.
This song by Kate Bluett and Elise Massa views Herod as representative of any political leader whose policymaking or direct command threatens the lives of innocent children today. Lord, have mercy.
This post is part of a daily Christmas series that goes through January 6. View all the posts here, and the accompanying Spotify playlist here.
Art & Theology 