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Ruth, Judith, or Ester, and even a David slain in the City of David.
Matthew˅s quote from Jeremiah says these children ˈwere no more,ˉ and in worldly wis-
dom, that is so. But in faith we believe that Jesus Christ rescued them from massacre
into eternal life in the Trinity as full conscious members of the communion of saints.
By contrasting the Holy Night so soon with the horrific massacre of Holy Innocents, the
Church again confronts us with this hard reality: though the light came into the world, it
remained a world of much darkness. The light of Christ has spread, but the darkness has
yet to be fully overcome.
P
RAYER
We pray for families of Holy Innocents ˀ those slain at Sandy Hook Elementary School
this Advent, and all children killed, maimed, or injured by acts of war, terror, and other
violence. We pray for those being made in the image of God who may be aborted. We
pray for abandoned, trafficked, or orphaned children. We pray for severely mentally dis-
abled adults, needy as children. We pray for those who protect and care for all the
world˅s innocents. Like Jesus, we also pray for forgiveness of those, living and dead,
who have caused these innocents to suffer or die, so that they may see in the light of
Christ and be cleansed of every wrongdoing. We pray also for the light of Christ to illu-
minate our own darkness and sins and to give us grace so that we too may repent, dis-
cern, and do God˅s will, as each of us is called, for the good of all God˅s children.
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P
HIL
A
RGENTO
Worship Commis-
sion Chair