December 29, 2022 – Christmas +4 Days

Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury

“Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what he had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the council, and said, “What are we to do? This man is performing many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all! You do not understand that it is better for you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed.” He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the dispersed children of God. So from that day on they planned to put him to death.” John 11:45-53

On this date in 1170, Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Becket is assassinated inside Canterbury Cathedral by followers of King Henry II; he is subsequently martyred. Thomas Becket was a commoner who made good being appointed as Archbishop by King Henry II. The events of his assassination are: after having an argument about Church privileges with the king, four knights who took the king at his words ‘Who will rid me of this troublesome priest?’ did just that – rid the king of the troublesome priest. He was Canonized by Pope Alexander III, and the king made public penance at Canterbury Cathedral.

Thomas Beckett was trying to maintain church protocol, especially when it came to the coronation of the king. And because several Bishops were upset that they could not break with tradition and were also excommunicated by Beckett, when word of the excommunications reached King Henry II, he uttered words similar to “how can the king be treated with such contempt by a low-born cleric.” These were words which several knights determined to be a death sentence for Beckett. The question is, are we willing to die for our faith? Are we willing to die for our faith?

Because we live in a country where there is freedom of religion, we do not have to face the life or death decision to live or die for our faith. But, it is a question we should ponder, and pray about. Why? Because even in America, the day may come where we might have to make such a decision. And if we do not consider it now, we may disappoint ourselves when that time comes.

Let us pray: I am not sure I am ready to die for my faith today, Lord Christ, but give me the strength to live out my faith as best I can, today. Amen.

Pastor Dave

December 28, 2022 – Christmas +3 Days

The Holy Innocents, Martyrs

“When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, 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 wise men. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: “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

Feast of the Holy Innocents, also called Childermas, or Innocents’ Day, is a festival celebrated in the Christian churches in the West on December 28 and in the Eastern churches on December 29. This day commemorates the massacre of the children by King Herod in his attempt to kill the infant Jesus (Matthew 2:16–18).

It is probably odd to many people that we lift up the killing of the innocents by Herod, yet it is a reminder that G-d’s salvific plan has been at odds with evil and it’s forces since the beginning of time. Herod could not take a chance that another king was present in his realm — even if the king was two years old. So he tried the equivalent of the Hail Mary ordering the killing of every child around the age of the reported king. But as we know, his plan did not work out. Mary and Joseph were warned by a messenger from the Lord, and they fled to Egypt. Eventually the forces of evil will kill the baby Jesus, but he will destroy the power of death for ever through the resurrection. Let us remember that throughout history, and each and every day there are many people who face danger for being a follower of Jesus. Being a disciple does not guarantee us safety and health, but it does guarantee us life eternal.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, we remember today the Holy Innocents. Help me to remember the needs of all children and infants today and every day. Amen.

Pastor Dave