The feast of the Holy Innocents falls just three days after Christmas. And that’s no accident.

Jesus came into the fallen world as an infant to start the process of ending suffering. But the world was filled with evil then, and it’s filled with evil now. This day we can meditate on the suffering of the innocent in our own time. Think of Ukraine. Afghanistan. The unborn and the born who are hungry and cold in wealthy nations.

Today we think about how we can be the hands and feet of Jesus to suffering children.

This prayer, from the Catholic Household Blessing and Prayers, is a good one to contemplate:

Heavenly Father,
your holiness revealed in Jesus
challenges us to renounce violence,
to forsake revenge,
and to love without discrimination, without measure.

Teach us the surpassing truth of the Gospel,
which puts worldly wisdom to shame,
that we may recognize as one with us
even our enemies and persecutors
and see all people as your children.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen