URC Daily Devotion 5 January 2026

St Matthew 2: 16 – 18
 
When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, 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 wise men.  Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:
 
‘A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.’
 
Reflection
 
This episode in the Christmas story makes for uncomfortable reading. It is far from unusual for those in power and fearful of losing it to attempt to exercise that power by killing those powerless to retaliate.
 
Herod, according to historians of the period, was particularly unstable, killing his own sons lest they threaten him. Herod may have been particularly angry that the wise men had seen through his insincere words. His reaction is extreme – but so are many other episodes from our recent history.
 
Herod might be the king of the Jews in his own time but Matthew equates him to the traditional oppressor of Israel, Pharoah, ordering the killing of the Hebrew boy babies.
 
The quotation from Jeremiah refers to the weeping of the defeated nations, Israel and Judah, as they are taken into exile.  Matthew placing Rachel at the centre of this sorrowful episode reminds us that Jeremiah’s words speak to all people who have lost children to acts of violence.
 
We too should weep with all who still lose children to acts of war.
 
Jesus was born into a troubled time like ours to show how, if we put the powerless at the centre of our decision making, our world might be totally transformed.
 
God exercises power by sending a vulnerable baby to be alongside all who suffer. God did not spare Jesus from suffering – Jesus escapes for now but ultimately the shadow of death at the hands of oppressive power is present here.
 
May today’s reading remind us how far our society is from God’s kingdom. Yet Jesus assures us that our actions and prayers can make a difference where we are. We are able to stand with Jesus in taking action against those who kill innocent children.

Prayer 

God of justice 
we cry out to you 
where parents weep for their children 
killed as conflict rages.
We confess that power is still exercised 
in ways which are counter to your law,
and we feel powerless to act.
Help us to do more.
Lord, send us your spirit of fire
to light the way to true peace in our world.
That the weeping will turn to joy
as love is victorious through Your Son,
Amen