God makes room when lives depend on it. Matthew's Gospel tells story of three magi who follow the Christmas star to find the stable where Jesus was born. King Herod, the story's villian is threatend by the birth of Jesus, so he tries to trick the Magi into revealing the baby's location. But God intervenes. In one dream, God advises Joseph to flee to Egypt with Mary and Baby Jesus. And in another, God tells the Magi to travel home via a different route. Then the nightmare begins. When Herod realizes he's been tricked, he's so angry he orders the killing of all boys ages two and under. The slaughter of those little ones is known as the Massacres of the Innocents.

Rulers have historically used their power to hurt the innocent. Today, supression by the powerful continues, even in the United States. The 2017 and 2018 family separation policy allowed taking small children, including infants, from their parents and housing them for weeks in poor conditions. Last year, swarms of masked agents started arresting people with out due process during immigration raids at workplaces and in neighborhoods. Both of those directives have been difficult to witness, and now we're left to wonder what will happen after this weekend's events in Venezuela.

The description of Herod and the Innocents is difficult to take in, especially during the Christmas season. So why include such a sad story in the Gospels? Two reasons: iIt's honest and it shows the power of God's joy. The happiness of finding Jesus doesn't depend on life's circumstances, because no darkness if too much for the light of Christ. In frightening times, God's presence in our hearts can provide refuge.