To the Herod's of the World

After Jesus was born, Matthew’s gospel records that King Herod was so disturbed by the news of a potential contender for the throne that he ordered a preemptive strike, executing all boys in Bethlehem under two years of age. 

Since its earliest centuries, the church has remembered these “holy innocents” who died because Jesus’ coming posed a threat to those in power. Today we remember all the little ones, born and unborn, who are sacrificed in a culture of death that has not yet welcomed the good news of Jesus. 

And we recall that Herod’s kingdom is now long gone, but the kingdom of God goes on.

[Taken from "Common Prayer for Ordinary Radicals" There's a great app available http://commonprayer.net ]