When we are victims of injustice or when we suffer in any way we may think of ourselves as innocent victims, innocent sufferers. But let us not deceive ourselves: not many of us are really innocent. We have all, perhaps even frequently, confirmed and extended the sin of Adam by our own personal sinfulness.

Still, innocence is held out to us as a promise, if we remember that true innocence is only attained through the purification of suffering. The children murdered by Herod were innocent of personal sin, but they still needed to attain the innocence that comes through the rebirth of baptism. Their baptism was in blood, in death. Hence, though they could never know Jesus while on earth, they were witnesses to His presence among us. They bore witness by their silent suffering and death, and so are honoured as martyrs.

Growing up, we lose the innocence of childhood. Sinning, we lose the innocence conferred upon us in Baptism. But in Christ we are assured that, in God's mercy and love, we can still become like little children and enter the Kingdom of Heaven.