A sermon for the Feast of the Holy Innocents, by Fr. Jerome Leckband.
The birth of Christ brings true joy and light into the world, yet it also exposes the darkness that still resists Him. Soon after the Magi worship the newborn King, the Child must flee into Egypt, pursued by Herod’s murderous fear. Evil does real harm, but it cannot overturn God’s saving purpose. In the flight to Egypt, Scripture reveals Jesus as the true Son called out to do what Israel—and all humanity—could not: to obey God’s Law perfectly. He lives the righteous life described at Sinai, fulfilling it for sinners before laying that life down in death. This holy obedience becomes the garment by which the innocent children of Bethlehem, and all who trust in Christ, are declared righteous before God. Amid grief, loss, and bitter tears, the Church is directed again to Jesus, whose victory over sin, death, and the devil ensures that evil never has the final word. Listen to the entire sermon below.
All Saints Lutheran Church and School 