A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children.(Matthew 2:18)

The text I read to you from Matthew’s gospel is surely the least known part of the Christmas story. It’s the part most people forget about or would rather overlook. In fact, in all my years of growing up in the church, I never heard anyone preach an Advent sermon on this "Slaughter of the Innocents" in Bethlehem, even though it is as much a part of the Christmas story as shepherds and wise men and stars shining brightly on a silent, holy night.

We wish it were otherwise. We wish that the whole Christmas story and everything about it were all sweetness and light. We wish for nothing but "good news and great joy for all people," and that peace and goodwill would finally prevail over all…