The First Sunday after Christmas - Holy Innocents Day

After the joy of Christmas, the Church immediately turns to the theme of martyrdom through the feasts of Saint Stephen, Saint John, and the Holy Innocents. This homily explains why. Christ entered a world of darkness, and His coming provoked violent opposition. Herod ordered the slaughter of the children of Bethlehem in a failed attempt to destroy the newborn King. Scripture reveals that Satan stood behind this plot, just as he had opposed God’s saving work from the beginning. Yet God preserved His Son, and nothing stopped Christ from fulfilling His mission. The Holy Innocents died because of Christ, and the Church honors them as true martyrs who now stand near the throne of God. Their witness reminds us that God’s kingdom cannot fail. Christ reigns even now, and no power on earth or in hell can prevent His everlasting kingdom from coming in fullness.