Light and Darkness in an Imperfect World

Homily for the Feast of the Holy Innocents

Each year during the Christmas Season, the church provides us with the First Letter of St. John to help us come to an understanding of how Jesus, as both a human being and a divine being, is the apex of God’s plan of salvation. Perhaps the first thing that we need to understand is that God’s plan comes about in an imperfect world. Consequently, as we read this letter, we will find that it is filled with comparison and contrast, particularly the latter, to illustrate what following Jesus is all about. In the verses that we read today, we are introduced to one of those contrasting elements; namely, light and darkness.

There are several reasons for the genesis of this letter. Some think that it is a theological treatise on ideas that were developed in the Gospel of St. John. Others view it as a debate on the proper interpretation of that Gospel. No matter which theory we adopt, it is evident that the purpose of the letter is to combat certain false ideas, especially about Jesus, and to deepen the spiritual and social awareness of the Christian community. Some former members of the community refused to acknowledge Jesus as the Christ and denied that he was a true man. Those who refused to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah taught that they did not need the forgiveness that comes through faith in Jesus. Others taught that Jesus’ commandment to love one another as he had loved us did not apply to everyone. They basically disputed the notion that we are all brothers and sisters who have been adopted by God through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Consequently, we will hear over and over again John’s assertion that it is necessary for all people to admit that they are sinners and to embrace the commandment of love wholeheartedly.

As we begin to read this letter, the Gospel for this feast of the Holy Innocents is certainly one of the dark episodes of the Scriptures which needs to be illumined by the light that Christ brought into the world. The massacre of the babes of Bethlehem is one of the darkest consequences of human jealousy and insecurity. It is hard to fathom how the joy and light that we experienced in the celebration of the Nativity of our Lord could be so quickly extinguished by this horrible act of King Herod. At the same time, we must recognize that such acts continue in our own times. The sins of abortion, of sexual and physical abuse, of human trafficking, etc. are no less horrible. It is up to us to bring the light of Christ into these dark situations through our advocacy and constant attention, never forgetting that God will prevail over these situations just as God has prevailed in former times.