Today we remember the Holy Innocents. The first to die for Christ. It is a fitting day to recall the Coventry Carol. It is an English Christmas carol dating from the 16th century.

It is a haunting carol. A mother sings a lullaby to her martyred infant, who dies for Christ. The Lord exiles from the grip of his enemies!

This is a reminder that while there are beautiful sentiments around Christmas, it is a story of exile. It is a story of a family crossing borders to escape those in power who seek to destroy them. It is about a foster father. He is determined to not only cross countries. He also wants to go beyond the border to find work. His goal is to sustain his family. All the while, many sons are massacred as this innocent child escapes death. We pray with the whole Church: “These children cry out their praises to the Lord; by their death they have proclaimed what they could not preach with their infant voices.”

Yes! God enters the human story in a very real way. He walks with us. Let this carol remind us of the nearness of Jesus in all circumstances of our lives.