Faith Filled Friday: Day of the Massacre of the Innocents

In the Gospel of Matthew, shortly after the Magi leave the infant Jesus in Bethlehem, King Herod as a result of the Magi telling him of the birth of a future King, orders the massacre of all the male infants, and thereby ordering the massacre of the innocents.  Christian Pro-life advocates have always connected the massacre of the innocents with today’s abortion culture.  Today (January 27^th) is the 44thannual pro-life march on Washington D. C. and, perhaps as you read this, I will be for the second year marching myself. So if you catch some of it on TV (EWTN usually broadcasts it) you may catch a glimpse of me. 

I try not to be political on this blog, but pro-life to me is not political.  It is humane, it is moral, it is Christian, and each child in the womb is a reflection of Christ and especially the Christ child.  Every abortion is the ultimate no to God.  Having an abortion, assisting in an abortion, advocating an abortion is the most heinous sin imaginable. 

I found it interesting that the Russian Orthodox Church this year was able to persuade the city of Yaroslavl in Russia to not perform any abortions on the commemorative day of the massacre of the innocents.  From BBC News:  

A Russian region has banned abortions for one day after local religious leaders called for the biblical account of the Massacre of the Innocents to be commemorated, it's reported.

The Russian Orthodox Church diocese in the city of Yaroslavl declared 11 January a "day of silence without abortions", and said it had the support of the region's health department. Abortion is legal in Russia and the cost is covered by the state.

"The event is dedicated to the memory of Bethlehem children slaughtered by King Herod, who wanted to kill the newborn infant Christ," a statement on the diocese's website reads. "On this day it is forbidden to carry out abortions in all state medical institutions in Yaroslavl Region," it says, adding that state officials and the Church want private clinics to follow suit.

LifeNews also picked up the story and added this other bit of information: 

The Yaroslavl diocese simultaneously plans a “Candle of Memory” event to commemorate the children whose lives ended not only under the reign of King Herod, but also due to abortion, RT News stated.

What is amazing in the LifeNews article is it says that 70% of pregnancies in Russia end in abortion and that 72% of the population are against any bans to abortion and that only 4% of the population are against abortions in all circumstances.  Goodness, no wonder they have a population problem there, but in addition they have a moral deficit there.  So the clergy there are fighting the good fight. 

If I haven’t turned you away with my pro-life advocacy by this point, you probably are a supporter.  Pray then with me for the end of abortion across the world.  The little innocents have no voice and no power.  We need to speak up for them.