Shadow & Light | Trying To Put Out the Light

Bethany Lutheran Church

In the church the Feast of the Holy Innocents is commemorated after Christmas to reflect on the first martyrs because of Christ the children in Bethlehem who lost their lives as Herod, in fear, tried to snuff out the light of Christ to protect his power and his agency. As we remember the loss of innocent lives to unnecessary violence we are invited to reflect on our own darkness and the darkness in this world that still exists and return to the light that continues to shine bright.
Matthew 2:16-18 (ESV)
Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:

“A voice was heard in Ramah,
weeping and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

1 John 1:5 (ESV)
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
1 John 2:2 (ESV)
He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.