Lament in the Light of Christmas
Empire and the Loss of Innocents
A voice is heard in Ramah,
lamentation and bitter weeping.
Rachel is weeping for her children;
she refuses to be comforted for her children,
because they are no more. - Jeremiah 31:15
There is a comforting refrain we hear during Advent: the light will dawn into the world of darkness. Post tenebras lux, as the Reformers said. After darkness, light. It’s a theme repeated over and over again in the Scriptures:
Isaiah is privileged to announce it: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined.”
St. John picks it up at the beginning of his gospel: “The light shines the in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.”
Jesus himself acknowledges that he is the fulfillment of these things: “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.’”
It’s a promise that the yoke of burden and the rod of the oppressor will be broken. War clothes burned as fuel for the fire. Exultation multiplied like joy in the harvest season. It’s freedom for the captive. Good news for the poor. Sight for the blind. God’s favor. Light busts through the darkness. It shines in the shadows and by it we can see.
That’s supposed to be joyful. And it is. Sometimes. Eventually.
The problem with the light exposing what was hidden in darkness, though...is that it exposes what was hidden in darkness. And what is hidden is often disturbing.
As soon as the Light dawned in Bethlehem, the powerful of the world hated it and wanted it destroyed so they didn’t lose their tenuous grip on power. In a dream, the angel of the Lord came to Joseph and told him to flee to Egypt with the new baby, Jesus. Then, the unimaginable happens:
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. — Matthew 2:16
Today, December 28, is the Feast of the Holy Innocents. On it, we remember the horrific murder of innocent babies by a desperate king who cared only about himself and his pleasure. Countless children’s lives ended so that a corrupt politician didn’t have to face the reality that he and his power were fragile. Herod lashed out because he could not face a king whose authority didn’t come from fear and force, but from gentleness and sacrifice.
Empire did what it always does when it’s authority is challenged. The horrible truth is that the Massacre of the Innocents is not a historical anomaly. This is always how power responds when it perceives a threat.
The truth of Empire is that it cares only about itself and will not let anything stand in the way of its lust. It is scared of the Light and will do whatever is necessary to silence the voices of those who cry out against its injustices so that what it hides in the darkness will not be exposed. It does not care how many people are harmed, how many families are torn apart, or how many innocents are lost in the process.
When Light shines in the darkness, Empire hardens its grip, lashes out, silences witnesses, and convinces its supporters that the costs is worth it. And it plays the same tune over and over and over again. It wears different uniforms and uses different slogans. But it leaves the same bodies and the same weeping.
Psalm 140 is the assigned Psalm for Morning Prayer on December 28. And I am so thankful that it acknowledges the lament that needs to happen in the midst of this season of Christmastide:
Deliver me, O LORD, from evildoers; protect me from those who are violent, who plan evil things in their minds and stir up wars continually. They make their tongue sharp as a snake’s, and under their lips is the venom of vipers. Selah. - Psalm 140:1-3
Christmastide isn’t all candy canes and carols. It can often be a painful season. If your heart is heavy this season (I know mine is), then do not believe the lie that your lament is not valid or timely. And if the Light is finally starting to show you the reality of the things that Empire has tried to hide in darkness, it’s never too late to cry out and change.
Because, Psalm 140 continues. Sadly, it doesn’t end with Empire suddenly repenting of its evil. It doesn’t pretend that the violence has gone away. Instead, it ends with something that is somehow even better: the knowledge that the Lord is on the side of the afflicted, the needy, and those who weep with Rachel. And that feels like Light, even in the darkest darkness.
I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy. Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name; the upright shall dwell in your presence. - Psalm 140:12-13
Almighty God, out of the mouths of children you manifest your truth, and by the death of the Holy Innocents at the hands of evil tyrants you show your strength in our weakness: We ask you to mortify all that is evil within us, and so strengthen us by your grace, that we may glorify your holy Name by the innocence of our lives and the constancy of our faith even unto death; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who died for us and now lives with you and the Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen.
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Thank you for this.